Local divers and emergency responders are still searching for the remaining two missing passengers from a boat accident that occurred on Monday, October 7, 2024, in Imore town, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Despite a week of intensive search efforts, the bodies of the missing passengers have not been recovered.
The tragic accident involved a boat named “Only God 13,” traveling from Ebutte Ero to Badagry with 15 passengers, and a wooden boat carrying ten passengers from Alakija to Imore.
The two boats collided, leading to a frantic rescue operation. All 15 passengers aboard “Only God 13” were rescued, while five passengers from the wooden ship sustained injuries.
Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, General Manager of the Lagos State Waterways Authority, confirmed the rescue efforts, noting that the injured were receiving medical care.
However, on Wednesday, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin provided a grim update, revealing that emergency teams had recovered three bodies from the lagoon.
“Three bodies were recovered today. The rescue operation is still ongoing,” Hundeyin said.
Despite extensive search efforts, the remaining two victims have yet to be found.
When contacted on Sunday for further updates, Emmanuel stated there had been no new developments regarding the missing passengers. Attempts to reach him again on Monday were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the National Inland Waterways Authority announced the arrest of the manager of the “Only God 13” ferry, citing negligence and failure to comply with safety regulations.
According to NIWA, the ferry had veered off its designated channel before colliding with the wooden boat. The obstructed vision of the captain, reportedly caused by an overload of the ferry, was blamed for the accident.
NIWA’s statement on Tuesday emphasized that the ferry company had failed to adhere to operational safety standards and proper navigation procedures.
“As a result of these findings, NIWA has arrested the manager of the ‘Only God 13’ ferry for negligence and failure to comply with safety regulations.
The arrest aims to ensure accountability and prevent future occurrences,” the statement said.
The agency also confirmed that further legal actions were underway, and the boat’s captain is expected to be produced for questioning to determine if additional charges will be filed.
