A tragic boat accident in Bayelsa State has claimed the lives of two people, while 13 others remain missing. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening at Akede community in Sagbama Local Government Area when two boats collided.
A source revealed that the accident involved a speedboat carrying passengers from Eropa community in Southern Ijaw and a fishing boat. The collision took place at the Akede Community waterfront.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, with local divers searching for the missing passengers. The source noted that some individuals were already in the water, trying to save those who may have survived the crash.
The speedboat involved in the accident was identified as Meeting Marine. It was powered by a 115HP engine and was operated by a man named Saturday. The boat was traveling from Anyama Ijaw toward Lubia and Foropa communities when it crashed into the fishing boat.
Confirming the incident, Comrade Ogoniba Ipigansi, Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria in Bayelsa State, said that 13 passengers were still unaccounted for. He also noted that communication difficulties in the area slowed down the rescue efforts.
“The union was alerted to the accident,” Comrade Ipigansi said, adding that poor network reception made coordination difficult.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Bayelsa State, DSP Musa Muhammad, stated that the incident had not yet been officially reported. However, he assured that the police would investigate and provide updates as soon as possible.
