At least one person has been confirmed dead and two injured in a Lagos boat accident which occurred on Tuesday along the Coconut Island, Apapa area of the state.
The dead victim was identified as Idris Adekunle, a clearing agent operating at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa.
The commercial boat was coming from the Iba area and heading for Tin Can Island around 7.30am when the incident happened.
It was gathered that the mishap was caused by the wave current generated by a bigger boat which passed by.
The bigger boat at the time of the accident was said to be towing a ship to harbour, when its wave destabilised and swept off the commercial boat.
A total of 10 passengers were on board, but nine were quickly rescued because they had life jackets on.
Rescue officials from the National Emergency Management Agency were said to be rounding off rescue operation when a relative of Adekunle showed up and said he had yet to be found.
NEMA spokesperson, South West zone, Ibrahim Farinloye, said that the victim used his personal life jacket while boarding the boat.
He said, “We were rounding off rescue operation when an elder brother of Adekunle said he had yet to be found. His friend also confirmed to us that he was spotted boarding the boat.
“We were informed that when they were boarding the boat, he brought out his personal life jacket and refused to use the one handed out by the boat operator. We had to continue looking for him.”
Farinloye said the remains of the deceased were recovered around 4.15pm on Wednesday and had been handed over to the Nigerian Police, Marine Corps.
Meanwhile, other survivors have been released to go home except one of those injured, who was on admission in a hospital.
His health condition was said to be stable.
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