Local divers and emergency responders continue their search for two passengers missing from a tragic boat accident that occurred on October 7, 2024, in Imore town, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The accident involved a boat named “Only God 13,” which was traveling from Ebutte Ero to Badagry with 15 passengers when it collided with a wooden boat carrying 10 passengers from Alakija to Imore. While all 15 passengers on the “Only God 13” were rescued, five individuals from the wooden boat suffered injuries.
An update from the state Police Public Relations Officer indicated that three bodies had been recovered, but the search for the remaining two victims has not yielded results after a week of efforts.
In response to inquiries about the search progress, the General Manager of the Lagos State Waterways Authority stated there were no updates on the recovery of the missing passengers. Efforts to contact him later went unanswered.
The National Inland Waterways Authority announced the arrest of the manager of the “Only God 13” ferry, citing negligence and failure to comply with safety regulations as contributing factors to the accident. The agency’s investigation revealed that the ferry had veered off its designated channel due to obstructed visibility, largely because of its load.
Legal actions are being pursued, and further investigations are ongoing to hold responsible parties accountable and prevent future incidents.
