The body of another passenger from the ill-fated LALEK Marine boat that capsized at Owode Ibeshe; a town not too far away from the Ikorodu terminal; has been recovered by Lagos State Government officials (LASWA) from the lagoon, increasing the death toll to seven.
As gathered, the deceased passenger said to be the last missing person on board of the drown boat; was recovered 41 hours after the tragedy occurred in the state.
The passenger’s body was recovered by Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Marine Police, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and local boat operators from the lagoon on Sunday afternoon.
General Manager of LASWA, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, who confirmed the recovery to The Guild; emphasized that the recovery marks the end of the search and rescue operations in which has aided the rescue of over 14 passengers from the lagoon.
Emmanuel, however, warned ferry operators and passengers against violating the laid down safety rules; including ban on night travelling on the waterways.
He noted that night travelling was reason the boat ran into an unforeseen object on the Waterways causing it to capsize and that it was not clear if all the passengers on board the ill-fated boat wore proper life jackets before embarking on the journey two hours after the daily closure of movements on the inland Waterways.
The LASWA boss warned that any Operator who violates this very important instruction; would henceforth be arrested by the Marine Police and boat confiscated; while those passengers on board such boat shall also be prosecuted in accordance with the relevant laws.
