Crime News
4 Drowns In Boat Accident At Akere Ipokia Ogun State
At least 4 person lost their lives today in a boat accident at Akere in Ipokia LGA of Ogun state.
Several others were said to be missing after the incident which was said to have occurred at about 11.am on the waterways.
NAN gathered that the incident happened when the boat conveying passengers and goods broke down midway into the journey.
Eye witnesses, who attributed the boat accident to overloading, also said that the passengers failed to put on standard life jackets.
“The boat was conveying the passengers, including secondary school students, several bags of garri and nine motorcycles,” one of the eye witnesses said.
The Chairman of Ipokia Local Government Area, Senayon Josu, who confirmed the incident, said four persons died in the mishap while 10 survived.
He said a rescue team comprising marine policemen, operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and local divers were helping in the rescue operation.
Josu explained that the survivors were taken to the General Hospital in Ipokia for medical treatment.
Josh who commiserated with the families of the victims, gave an assurance that efforts were being intensified to rescue the remaining victims.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, who also confirmed the accident, however, said “three passengers have been confirmed dead while five persons were rescued alive.’’
According to him, no fewer than 20 persons boarded the ill-fated boat.
Anike
May 31, 2018 at 2:45 PM
People should stop risking their lives! You don’t have a life jacket or know how to swim, well…..
Christian Anyawu
June 1, 2018 at 2:33 PM
It was true that 4 persons died in d mishap that happened at about 0847 hours on Wednesday. The boat actually loaded 21 passenger including the boat pilot who’s nickname is Otapo, 6 motorcycles, 15 bags of gari, one 30ltr of palm oil. The boat was leaking water but yet d pilot said no problem and he take off. We were all sitting at d river bank when some Itofin fishermen started shouting & all we could see was d boat sinking, thank God for villagers, NSCDC & Marine policemen who quickly responded to the shouting of everyone by d river bank. 3 died on d spot while a lady by name Tope a very promising young hardworking girl whom was rescue by d NSCDC died at Ipokia general hospital as a result of the striking health workers. The same chairman who rush to the water side which is about 10 drive buy Okada was the same person who was told by an officer sometimes last year to provide live jacket’s to the boat pilots so that passengers will b using & he said d local government is not generating any money from there, is unfortunate that some people died in our very own eyes.