The flood crisis caused by the water released from the Oyan River Dam has claimed its first casualties following the death of two teenagers who were involved in a boat accident that occurred on Thursday in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The deceased victims, Misturat Okunbanjo (18) and Azeezat Amoo (16), drowned while four other victims were rescued after the boat they were in capsized at about 8 p.m.
The state Fire and Rescue Services confirmed the incident on Friday, adding that the passengers were on their way to Isawo from the Olorunsogo area of the community when the incident occurred.
A statement by the agency’s Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Ololade Agboola, said a search and rescue operation was conducted by men of the fire service with the assistance of locals which led to the recovery of the bodies.
Sunday Special, however, learnt that the late Mitsturat had just secured admission at the University of Ilorin and was preparing to resume on Monday before she met her untimely death.
The Chairman of Olorunsogo Community Development Area, Alaba Awosanya, who disclosed this to our correspondent said the two deceased victims were returning from their catering school when the boat capsized.
Awosanya said, “The victims were coming from their places of work. One of the two that lost their lives, Mitsura, just secured an admission into UniIlorin and she was due to go this weekend and resume on Monday. She was just coming from where she and Azeezat had been learning catering outside the community. The town is Isawo while the community is Olorunsogo. So they were coming into the community when.”
Speaking on how the incident happened, Awosanya said the boat capsized after hitting a culvert that was covered by the flood caused by the water released from the Oyan Dam.
The community leader further stated that the current of the water had washed them away before the paddlers could rescue them.
“The canoe was ferrying three adults and two teenagers when it hit a culvert and turned sideways. That was how it got filled with water and sank. In the process of sinking, the passengers had to jump into the canal which was by the culvert.
“So the boat paddlers who are Ijaw natives, jumped into the canal and tried to rescue the victims. Maybe because of the weight of the teenagers, the current of the water had washed them farther down the canal.
“When we got to know, we called the Lagos State emergency toll line, and the state fire service men were deployed. They did the much as they could do that night. They resumed the search party the next morning and about one or two hours, they were able to retrieve the dead bodies,” he added.
