Eleven traders die as boat capsizes in Ogun river

Ayobami Ife

 

Eleven passengers, mostly traders, have died in a river when a boat ferrying  29 passengers  capsized on Tafa River, Maun 2 in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.

 

 

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Friday following an engine failure when the boat was already midway on the river.

 A Witness told The Daily Crucible that the ill - fated boat  was ferrying passengers  and goods from Badagry in Lagos to   Maun  in Ipokia.

Eleven people were  said to have died in the water, 10 rescued alive by  divers while others are  still missing.  

 

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state,  Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed the incident,  and said the  boat overload caused the mishap, adding that the passengers were also without lifejackets at the time.

"Yes. There was boat  capsize. It was overloaded . The boat did not have light and travelled 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 live, 10 dead yesterday and one died Friday. No live jacket. There were marine  at the site. Two missing. Skipper arrested after he ran away," Oyeyemi said.

 

According to Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police(DSP), the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu has given directed that henceforth, boat must have live jacket with  more than its capacity.

 The Divisional Police Officer in Ipokia Division is to ensure compliance with the directive.

However, the remains of the deceased have been evacuated and kept at a morgue in Ipokia.