At least six passengers have been confirmed dead following a boat mishap along the Nigerdock axis of the Igbologun water channel in Lagos state.
Four other passengers were rescued from the incident, which occurred at about 8:35pm on Tuesday. The accident involved a Savvy Marine passenger boat that was reportedly en route from Ilashe Beach House.
Rescue operations were still ongoing at the time of reporting to locate other missing passengers.
The incident was confirmed in a joint statement issued by the Lagos State Waterways Authority and the National Inland Waterways Authority.
The statement was signed by Wuraola Alake, head of public affairs unit at NIWA, and Omowunmi Yussuff, head of corporate affairs unit at LASWA.
According to the statement, both agencies immediately activated their search and rescue teams after receiving a distress alert.
The agencies said the operation was carried out in collaboration with the marine police and other first responders.
“As of the time of this report, four passengers have been successfully rescued and transported to a nearby hospital, where they are currently receiving medical attention,” the statement said.
“Sadly, six other passengers were recovered dead at the scene, while search and rescue operations remain ongoing to account for all persons involved,” it added.
Preliminary findings indicated that the mishap may have been caused by a collision with a submerged object.
The agencies said investigations were still ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident, while LASWA and NIWA expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring safety on Lagos inland waterways.
The agencies also reiterated the need for strict compliance with waterways safety regulations, including proper navigation practices and adherence to the “no night travel” rule.