Not less than 11 people have died in Tafa river in Maun 2, Ipokia Local Government, Ogun state after a boat carrying 29 passengers capsized and left its passengers to struggle for their lives.
The boat was ferrying passengers and goods from Badagry in Lagos to Maun in Ipokia when the engine suddenly malfunctioned mid-way on the river, with the passengers crying for help before it went down.
A source said the boat was carrying traders and their goods and 10 of the passengers were rescued by local divers. Others remain missing.
Confirming the mishap, Abimbola Oyeyemi is the Ogun Police Command, attributed its cause to an overload.
“Yes. There was a boat capsize. It was overloaded. The boat did not have light and travelled in the night. It had a head-on collision with a pillar in the river.
“The passengers were coming from Badagry in Lagos to Ipokia. It was the last boat left and all the 29 traders boarded the boat. 16 rescued live, 10 died yesterday and one died Friday. No live jackets.
“There were marines at the site. Two missing, Skipper arrested after he ran away.”
