No fewer than eight persons were feared drowned, yesterday,
after a commercial boat capsized around Apapa area of Lagos.The engine boat conveying passengers, majority of whom were
traders, was reportedly coming from Sagbokoji Village, when tragedy struck.Lagos State Police Command said only two persons were suspected
to have drowned in the boat mishap, while seven persons were rescued.
Information available to Vanguard revealed that the
commercial boat, conveying about 19 passengers, left the village at 7.30a.m.,
heading towards Lagoon area of Apapa. Midway into the journey, the boat reportedly developed a fault,
but the operators assured the passengers they would fix it.
Apprehension, however, set in when it became apparent that the
boat operators could not rectify the problem. Some of the panic stricken
passengers, who could swim, reportedly plunged into the river before the boat
reportedly capsized at about 8a.m. Fishermen around the area reportedly rescued some of the
passengers. Eyewitnesses said about nine persons were rescued and conveyed
to their destinations. One of the rescued passengers included a young girl that was
said to be carrying dried fish to an unknown destination for sale. Identities of some of those suspected to have drowned were given
as Toume, Fajuwa and Tomiwa.When contacted, Lagos State Deputy Police Public Relations
Officer, Mr. Damasus Ozoani, confirmed the incident, stating that information
at his disposal had it that two persons were suspected drowned. He said rescue operation by operatives of the Marine Police was
still on. As at 4.30pm, bodies of some of the victims were yet to be recovered.
Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com
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