Boat Mishap In Bayelsa: 2 Confirmed Dead, 13 Missing

Nelson Utip

A boat mishap in Akede community in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa state has claimed two lives while 13 others have been declared missing, this is as a result of a head-on collision of two boats.

An eyewitness said that the incident occured on Tuesday evening and involved a speed boat carrying passengers from Eropa community in Southern Ijaw and a fishing boat. Divers are combing the waters in an attempt to rescue the missing persons.

According to the eyewitness, a speed boat named Meeting Marine, powered by a 115HP engine and operated by a man identified as Saturday, was traveling from Anyama Ijaw towards Lubia and Foropa communities when it collided with a fishing boat at the Akede Community waterfront.

The Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria in Bayelsa State, Comrade Ogoniba Ipigansi while confirming the incident said that 13 passengers were yet to be found, he added that  the union was alerted to the accident but poor network hampered communication which adversely affected their rescue operation.

The PPRO of Bayelsa State Police Command, DSP Musa Muhammad, said the incident had not been reported, he pledged to talk to the Press after investigation.