No fewer than 25 people have died in a separate boat accident in Bayelsa and Jigawa States.
At least 20 people have been reportedly burnt to death as the engine of a wooden market boat popularly known as ‘Denghe market boat’ exploded along Ezetu Community River in the Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State.
According to a community source, the unfortunate incident occurred around 4:30 pm on Wednesday when the boat conveying passengers and market women was gutted by fire en route from Ezetu Community 1 to the Okubie community.
ASP Musa Muhammed, the police spokesman in Bayelsa State who confirmed the incident said rescue operations to recover the drowned passengers are ongoing.
“The local boat traveling from Ekeni community in Southern Ijaw to Yenagoa had an accident and sank. About 20 persons were reported to have lost their lives. Efforts are ongoing to recover their corpses,” he said.
The Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union in Bayelsa State, Mr Ipgansi Ogoniba, who also confirmed the boat accident, said the boat caught fire in the middle of the river while sailing to the Okubie community and burnt some of the passengers onboard.
The chairperson of the Association of Coastal and Waterways Communities of Nigeria in Bayelsa State, Comrade Odede Dinikpete Tina, attributed the high casualty figures to the failure of the boat operators in the state to abide by safety protocols of wearing life jackets while onboard.
She lamented that despite sensitization programs carried out on safety protocols, by the association, people traveling on waterways still refused to wear life jackets.
Meanwhile, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, who expressed sadness over the cargo boat accident, directed the relevant ministries in the state to join the rescue efforts immediately.
He announced that an always to observe safety procedures on the state’s waterways investigation would be conducted into the cause of the accident and urged boat operators to always observe safety procedures on the state’s waterways.
Also, a boat carrying passengers crossing the Gamoda River at Nahuce village in Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State has capsized, killing five people with 15 others missing.
DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), at Jigawa State Police Command, confirmed the incident in a statement issued to newsmen, saying the mishap happened Wednesday.
The statement said: “Information from a reliable source revealed that a canoe conveying twenty Gamoda River at Nahuce village in Taura LGA capsized, five people died while the remaining passengers still missing.
“Upon receipt of the report, a team of Policemen in collaboration with local divers and good Samaritans raced to the scene for a rescue mission.
“Five of the passengers were dead. Namely; Abdurra’uf Mohd 15 years, Suleman Ali, 20, Shafiu Mohd 25, Ado Nafance, 75 and Alasan Mohd, 16, all of Taura LGA”.
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