Death toll rises to 5 after Nigeria boat mishap

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Death toll rose to five early Thursday, after rescuers recovered two remaining bodies from a waterway following a boat accident in Nigeria's commercial hub, Lagos, a local official said.

Two passenger boats, carrying a total of 18 people, had a head-on collision late Tuesday along the Irewe creek in the Ojo local government area of the state, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, head of the Lagos Waterways Authority, told reporters.

During the rescue operation, three bodies were earlier recovered from the area, while 13 passengers were rescued alive.

The remaining bodies earlier declared missing were recovered, as the rescue operation was brought to a halt by the Lagos Waterways Authority, said Emmanuel.

Preliminary investigations by the authorities had revealed that the incident occurred due to reckless driving and speeding on the part of the two boat captains.

However, the local official said authorities would not relent on the efforts to ensure full compliance with safety regulations by boat operators to make the waterways safe.

"Further investigations would be carried out by and those found wanting would be sanctioned accordingly," he added.

In Lagos, boat accidents are common, with the most recent one claiming up to 17 lives on June 29. Officials blamed the incident on poor visibility and the refusal to wear lifejackets by the passengers.

Earlier in the year, on February 2, three people died and 17 others were rescued as a passenger boat capsized at Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb.


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