• Three passengers still missing
A commercial boat driver, Elebiju Bimbo, is currently in police custody for causing the death of 12 passengers on Kirikiri waterfront in Lagos state after he deliberately turned of his boat engine on sea over N300.
The boat with inscription ‘Mount Zion Transport’, fitted with 150HP Yamaha outboard engine was conveying 20 passengers from Kirikiri to Badagry Monday July 29 this year at 5:45pm
An argument was said to have ensured between the Deckhand (conductor) and the passengers as to the transport fare.
The driver insisted on #1,500.00 per passenger and the passengers said the will only pay #1,200.00 each. Because of the #300.00 difference, the driver turned off the boat engine on a turbulent waterfront.
A big ship passed and stirred the water, creating a wave that drifted the boat to the stationary barge.
It, however, drifted to a stationary barge and capsized along Kirikiri waterfront. Five passengers were rescued alive while 12 corpses were recovered. Three persons are still missing. Elebije swam to safety.
Speaking to newsmen, the State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, said, “On July 29, 2020 at 17:45 hours, our Marine operatives received a distress call that a commercial”.
Odumosu added that investigation revealed that the accident was caused by the deliberate act of the driver. “The suspect will be charged to court”.
