TheCable

A search operation is ongoing after a boat carrying 20 passengers capsized in the Apapa area of Lagos on Wednesday.

Five persons were said to be missing as at Thursday morning.

Confirming the incident in a statement, Adesina Tiamiyu, general manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), said three people lost their lives.

The boat was heading from Liverpool in Apapa to Ojo when it capsized a few minutes after take-off.

While 12 persons were rescued alive, two males and one female were pronounced dead.

“Twelve of the passengers were rescued alive by Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) officials and local divers, three (two males, one female) were confirmed dead while search and rescue operation have been put on hold till the following day for the remaining five missing persons,” the statement read.

“The three dead bodies have however been bagged with two handed over to State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) to be deposited at the morgue, while the woman identified as Alhaja was handed over to her family after proper documentation from the Marine Police Officers.

“Search and rescue operation was suspended midnight and has since commenced this morning as well as necessary investigation.”

In July, five people were killed in a boat accident that occurred between Lagos Island and Ikorodu.