A boat carrying 29 passengers, mainly traders capsized on Tafa River, Maun 2 in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun , leaving 11 dead with 16 rescued while two others are missing.
It was gathered that the boat was ferrying the passengers and their goods from Badagry in Lagos to Maun in Ipokia, when the incident occurred due to engine failure after a head-on collision with a pillar.
The boat reportedly collided with a pillar in the river, leaving 10 dead on the spot while the eleventh victim died the following day. The boat was said to have “overloaded” its passengers limit.
The Ogun Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abeokuta. According to him, the incident, occurred on Wednesday night. He said the boat had no light even though it was ferrying passengers at night.
He added that the skipper bolted but he was subsequently arrested.
Oyeyemi said “There was a boat capsize. The boat was overloaded. It did not have light while ferrying passengers in the night. It had a head-on collision with a pillar in the river.
“The passengers were coming from Badagry in Lagos to Ipokia. It was the last boat left and all the 29 traders boarded the boat. 16 rescued alive, 10 died on the same day and one died Friday. Two of them are missing.
“There was no live jacket. There were marine at the site. Skipper arrested after he ran away.”
He said remains of the deceased have been deposited at Ipokia morgue.
Oyeyemi equally disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu has directed that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) should enforce that boat possesses live-jackets.
Meanwhile, Governor Ibikunle Amosun has visited the site of the boat mishap. Represented by a member representing Egbado South/Ipokia Federal Constituency, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade, commiserated with the people of the community while pledging that the state government will commence regulating water way transport in the area and would provide life jackets for commuters.
He added that the use of life jacket would be made compulsory in accordance to the world best practices.
