Dayo Johnson Akure
One person reportedly died while 15 others sustained injuries weekend during a boat mishap in ldiogba, oil-rich ilaje council area of Ondo state.
Vanguard gathered that the boat was overloaded with passengers and goods during the market day in lgbokoda town when the incident occurred.
Reports had it that they left Awoye and was heading to lgbokoda market.
The engine of the boat reportedly failed and the wave of the sea reportedly capsized the boat.
Eyewitness account said that the accident would have been averted if the transporter did not overload the boat and the passengers involved had put on their life jackets.
Concerted efforts of local divers and officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC Ondo State Command averted more casualties after the mishap.
Reacting to the ugly development, the NSCDC image maker in the state command, Olufemi Omole in a statement said that “the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Ondo State Command, Commandant Hammed Abodunrin has issued out a disaster alert cautioning the boat or ferry transporters at the riverine areas of the State to desist from overloading of passengers and goods which could lead to an unprecedented mishap.
Omole confirmed that the accident at ldiogba would have been averted if the transporter had not overloaded the boat and the passengers had their life jackets on when the accident occurred.
He said that the command was fully committed to safeguarding all critical national assets and Infrastructure, Intelligence gathering, anti-vandalism, disaster management amongst others.
It issued a stern warning that “any boat transporter caught in the act of risking the lives of innocent citizens by overspeeding and overloading would be arrested and prosecuted under the law.