In a heartbreaking incident, two sisters, aged 18 and 16, were recovered lifeless after a boat capsized in the Isawo area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The victims, identified as 18-year-old Misturat Okunbanjo and 16-year-old Azeezat Amoo, were aboard the ill-fated canoe when the accident occurred.
The incident was initially reported around 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 26, 2023, along Yewa Road, off Olainukan bus stop, Isawo, Agric.
However, it wasn’t until the following morning that the bodies of the two sisters were recovered.
According to eyewitness accounts, the area became flooded due to a river overflow triggered by the release of dams, as announced by both state and federal authorities.
This flooding severely affected residents, particularly those in Yewa Inside and Wood Island Estate, who were left with no means to cross the river except by boat.
In the wake of the overflow, some residents saw an opportunity to assist and began constructing boats to ferry people across the river, charging N100 per trip.
This venture was proving successful until the tragic boat capsizing incident on Thursday.
The ill-fated boat was on a journey from Olorunsogo to Isawo when it capsized, prompting local divers to make immediate efforts to rescue those on board.
When their efforts proved unsuccessful, they called for state emergency services to intervene.
Tragically, only four individuals were rescued, while both sisters remained missing until their lifeless bodies were recovered the following day.
It’s worth noting that the deceased sisters shared the same father but had different mothers.
The area is known to experience seasonal flooding during the rainy season, with residents often constructing makeshift bridges to access the region.
However, the release of a dam exacerbated the situation, making the area virtually inaccessible except by canoe.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, in coordination with locals familiar with the terrain, conducted extensive search and rescue operations throughout the night.
The recovery operation concluded at approximately 10:10 hours on Friday, during which the bodies of the two young sisters were found.
Margaret Adeseye, the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, expressed her regret over the tragic incident and stressed the importance of avoiding unsafe practices around waterways.
She also highlighted ongoing efforts to educate and sensitize communities on measures to prevent such incidents.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with seasonal flooding and the necessity for safety precautions when navigating waterways.
Lagos State authorities had previously urged communities near the Ogun River to relocate due to the risk of heavy flooding following heavy rainfall and the opening of the Oyan dam by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority.
Areas listed as likely to be affected included Alagbole, Meiran, Maidan, Kara, Isheri-Olowora, Agiliti, and others, as stated by the Commissioner of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.
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