Family Members Of Victims Blame Helmsman For Boat Accident

Family members of some of the victims of last weekend’s boat accident in Lagos are blaming the boat’s helmsman for the accident that led to the death of many of the passengers

According to Punch, the accident occurred at Egbin, near Ijede in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, with family members of victims pointing accusing fingers at the boat’s helmsman for the disaster.

The boat, said to be carrying 26 passengers before it capsized, was said to have been overloaded and only three persons were rescued while two corpses recovered as 22 were missing as at the weekend.

Olalekan Hammed Ajayi, elder brother of a deceased victim, said the boat was carrying more passengers than its capacity while urging the regulatory agencies to investigate the accident to ascertain the actual cause.

“I was on my way to a social function when my wife called me that the family members had not heard from my brother. I called his wife, who confirmed to me through his son, Toheeb. I was able to call one of his boys, Fatai, at his place of work in Ajah.

“Fatai said no one filled the passenger manifest at the jetty where the boat took off from and how we got to know that he was involved in the accident was that the rescue workers removed the SIM card from his phone and contacted us after his remains had been recovered.

“I blame the helmsman for conveying them at that time of the day and for not giving them any life jacket before the journey.”

Another relative of one of the victims, Kehinde Shotayo, appealed to the government to provide adequate support to the bereaved families.

As at yesterday, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said eight corpses have been recovered so far in the ongoing search and rescue operation for the victims.