6 Children Drown As Boat Capsize In Lagos

SIX children reportedly drowned when a canoe conveying 14 school children from Ojo area to Irewe Island in Lagos state capsized. Eight others, including the boat driver, were rescued.

The incident occurred at about 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning after a fibre canoe was said to have collided with the passenger boat.

The rescued children, some of whom were said to be primary and secondary school students, were rushed to Igando General Hospital in the state for treatment.

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Three of them who swam to safety, were discharged from the hospital at about 5.pm.

Officials of Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) reportedly arrived the scene to commence rescue operation.

LASEMA’s General Manager, Femi Oke-Osanyintolu disclosed that the children were not putting on live jackets when the accident occurred, adding that the rescue operation was handled by the Local Emergency Committee, led by the Executive Secretary of Ojo Local Government Area.

The South-west Spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye said NEMA had issued strong warning and advice few weeks earlier against the ongoing turbulence on sea.

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“We also emphasized on the need for ferry/boats operators and other users to be very careful while carrying out their daily activities.” He said.

Mr Farinloye further confirmed the recovery of the bodies.

He said, “First, rescue workers recovered the body of one of the children. But now, all the bodies have been recovered.”

 

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