Six school children drown in boat accident, 8 rescued

Six school children have reportedly drowned in Irawe area of Ojo, Lagos on Wednesday, July 1 after the canoe conveying fourteen of the pupils capsized.

According to reports, the incident occurred after a fibre canoe reportedly ran into the passenger boat at about 9am.

Most of the children were said to be primary school pupils and secondary school students who were on their way to school, and some of them who survived the accident are reportedly responding to treatment at the Igando general hospital, where they were rushed to.

Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA who were contacted , reportedly stormed the scene to commence rescue work. But as at 7pm, bodies of the eight missing children were yet to be found.

The South West spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Agency , Ibrahim Farinloye confirmed the incident.

“The 14 school children were being conveyed across Ojo to Irawe jetty, to school. Six children are yet to be recovered as I speak. Searches will continue tomorrow."