Four die in Ogun boat accident

No fewer than four  persons died  on Wednesday in a boat accident at Akere in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Several others were said to be missing after the incident which was said to have occurred about 11.am on the waterways.
The incident happened when the boat conveying passengers and   goods  broke down midway into the journey.
Eye witnesses, who attributed the boat accident to overloading, also said  that the passengers failed to put on standard life jackets.
“The boat was conveying the passengers, including secondary school students, several bags of garri and nine motorcycles,” one of the eye witnesses  said.
The Chairman of  Ipokia Local Government Area, Senayon Josu, who confirmed the incident, said four persons died in the mishap while 10  survived.
He said a rescue team comprising marine policemen, operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and local divers were helping  in the rescue operation.
Josu explained that the survivors were taken to the General Hospital in Ipokia for medical treatment.
Josh who commiserated with the families of the victims, gave an assurance that  efforts were being intensified to rescue the remaining victims.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi,  who also confirmed the accident, however,  said  “three passengers have been confirmed dead while five persons were rescued alive.’’
According to him, no fewer than  20 persons boarded the ill-fated boat.
He gave an  assurance that the rescue operation would continue until the last person was found.