Bayelsa Boat Mishap Claims 20 Lives, Many Missing

More than 20 people lost their lives when the engine of a wooden boat, popularly called ‘Denghe’, exploded in the middle of the river and sank in the Ezetu I community river in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The only survivor of the tragic incident, which occurred on Wednesday evening, is currently in critical condition and receiving medical treatment at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH) in Okolobiri, Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

Reports indicated that the unfortunate boat was traveling from Ekene on the Atlantic coast of the council area to Yenagoa when the tragedy occurred.

And confirming the incident, Spokesperson for the State Police Command in Bayelsa, Musa Muhammed, said rescue operations are underway to recover the passengers who drowned in the boat accident.

According to Musa; “The local boat travelling from the Ekeni community in Southern Ijaw to Yenagoa had a mishap and sank, 20 persons were reported to have lost their lives. Efforts are ongoing to recover their corpses.”

Sources familiar with the terrain hinted that the tragic incident took place at about 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, lamenting that occupants of the local boat were mainly market women when it went up in flames following the alleged explosion of its engine mid-sea.

Eyewitness accounts said the market boat usually goes from community to community along the coastal areas to do makeshift markets before returning to Yenagoa every week.

Also reacting to the sad news, the Chairman of Maritime Workers Union (MWU), Bayelsa State chapter, Comrade Ipgansi Ogoniba, said the local boat went up in flame in the middle of the river while sailing to Ukubie community with some of the passengers on board being burnt in the process.

However, Ogoniba said the number of casualties could not be immediately ascertained as the search and rescue operation was still ongoing as of early Thursday morning.

On his part, the Chairperson, Association of Coastal and Waterways Communities of Nigeria (ACWCN) in the state, Comrade Odede Tina, while expressing shock at the incident, blamed the large number of casualties on the inability of the boat operators in the state to stick to safety protocols.

Odede particularly frowned at a situation where the operators have consistently refused to wear life jackets and provide the same for their passengers while on board, even as he urged the State government to intensify efforts in linking more coastal communities by road to curb the incessant loss of lives in the river.

For the chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the State, Target Segibo, the mishap is not only unfortunate but a great loss to the family members of the victims and the council area.

Diri Expresses Shock, Condoles Victims’ Families
In his reaction to the unfortunate incident, the State Governor, Douye Diri expressed sadness over the accident in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah.

Offering condolences of the state government to families of victims of the mishap, Governor Diri said; “The news of another tragic boat accident in our state was shocking and sad. On behalf of the state government, I extend my deepest condolences to the victims’ families.

“Upon hearing the news of the tragedy, I immediately directed the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, and other relevant government organs to dispatch their teams to the river point to join the rescue efforts.

“This is yet one boat accident too many and the state government will take measures to avert such avoidable tragedy going forward. We will investigate the cause(s) of this mishap.

“I again implore boat operators in the state to ensure they observe proper safety procedures at all times to make our waterways safer.”