Rescuers, including the marine unit of the Nigeria Police Force and local volunteers, have recovered three more bodies from the boat mishap that occurred on Monday night in the Imore waterside area of Lagos.
The accident, involving a collision between two commercial boats, left several passengers missing and others injured.
Daily Trust had reported that five people were on Tuesday declared missing while 20 were rescued after the two boats collided in the riverine community of Imore in Amuwo Odofin LGA of Lagos.
Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the recovery of three more bodies by the rescue team on Wednesday.
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“Three more bodies have been recovered,” Hundeyin stated in a WhatsApp message.
In a related development, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has arrested the manager of ‘Only God Ferry’ following a separate boat accident on October 7, 2024, also in the Imore area.
NIWA, in a statement, said investigation revealed that the fibre boat, owned by the company, veered off course and collided with a wooden boat due to the captain’s obstructed vision caused by cargo.
The ferry company was found to have violated several safety protocols, which contributed to the tragedy, NIWA added.
“Of the 15 passengers aboard the wooden boat, 13 were rescued, with five sustaining injuries. Two passengers remain missing, and search efforts are ongoing,” it said.
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