No fewer than 11 passengers were rescued when a boat conveying 13 passengers had a head-on collision with a Nigeria Port Authority tug boat named Larana in the Itun Agan area of Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos State.
All the 13 passengers in the wooden boat, which capsized after the collision, found themselves in the water.
Emergency responders, who stormed the scene of the accident, were said to have rescued 11 of the passengers, while two others were still missing as at press time.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Sunday that a search and rescue operation involving marine policemen, firefighters and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) was still ongoing.
Elkana said, “On Wednesday, November 20, 2019, around 8.15am, a wooden boat fitted with 30HP Yamaha engine, operated by one John Adesuyi of the Itun Agan community, Amuwo-Odofin, with 13 passengers on board, allegedly collided with an NPA tug boat, with the inscription, Larana, and No. 9252723, at the Itun Agan area, Amuwo-Odofin.
“Consequently, the wooden boat capsized and the passengers fell into the water. However, a search and rescue team involving marine policemen, Lagos State firefighters, LASEMA and other emergency management agencies swiftly mobilised to the scene. Eleven of the passengers were rescued, while two others are still missing. Meanwhile, a search and rescue operation is ongoing.”
