Thirteen more dead bodies have been recovered from the Ojo area of Lagos state where a W-19 passenger fibre boat capsized. In a statement made available on Sunday by the national emergency management agency, NEMA spokesperson, Ibrahim Farinloye, Sixteen people were on board the boat on Saturday before the tragedy struck, killing two person’s earlier. While two bodies were immediately recovered, two more bodies were later retrieved last night in rescue operations.
The agency lamented that some illegal boat operators still violate rules stipulated by the Inland Waterway by carrying passengers after the end of official hours of 7pm. According to NEMA, regulatory bodies have tried to stamp out illegal operations of small boat operators who hardly use life jackets after official hours. The NEMA spokesperson, however, maintained that the illegal operators do not heed to efforts put in place.
Chidozie Chima | September 20, 2024
