Thirteen more dead bodies have been recovered from the Ojo area of Lagos state where a W-19 passenger fibre boat capsized.
According to emergency services, 16 people were on board the boat on Saturday before tragedy struck, killing two persons earlier.
While two bodies were immediately recovered, two more bodies were later retrieved on Saturday night in rescue operations.
NEMA spokesperson, Ibrahim Farinloye said that the recovery operation of the missing victims of an ill-fated boat sailing from Mile 2 to Ibeshe has led to the recovery of a total of 11 more bodies on Sunday
She said that late Saturday night, two more bodies were recovered in addition to the two earlier recovered in the morning. With this, it has become a total of 15 bodies recovered.
She also said that it is likely that two more bodies have been sighted but until final recovery is done before that can be confirmed.
The agency lamented that some illegal boat operators still violate rules stipulated by the Inland Waterway by carrying passengers after the end of official hours which is 7pm.
According to NEMA, regulatory bodies have tried to stamp out illegal operations of small boat operators who hardly use life jackets after official hours.
The NEMA spokesman, however, maintained that the illegal operators do not heed to efforts put in place.
He said that efforts are on the motion to address the gaps with all stakeholders such as Nigerian Navy’s Special Boat Service , Association of Boat/Ferry Operators of Nigeria, LASWA, NIWA, NEMA and Marine Police to address the situation.”
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