The deceased were among the 14 children that boarded a fibre boat from the jetty at Ojo and were heading to their school at Irewe when it capsized.
Witnesses said the boat capsized after a speed boat ran into it, causing the operators to lose control.
Eight of the children and the boat operator were rescued alive. All the children were reportedly not wearing life jackets when the accident occurred.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has repeatedly warned boat operators to kit their passengers with life jackets. NEMA Public Relations Officer in the South West Region, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the compliance level among boat operators was minimal.
He also confirmed the recovery of the bodies.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State government has commiserated with families of the deceased children.
In a joint press briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Managing Director of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Yinka Marinho, described the incident as unfortunate, lamenting that it occurred despite government’s increasing efforts to make the waterways safe for residents.
Marinho who was joined at the briefing by the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Executive Secretary, Ojo Local Government Area, Lawal Sakiru Adewale, the General Manager, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mrs. Dominga Odebunmi and the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Habib Aruna, said the captain of the speed boat that caused the accident has been arrested and will be prosecuted accordingly.
