At least 20 people, including children, are suspected to have lost their lives in a tragic boat incident along the Andoni-Bonny coastal waters in Rivers State on Tuesday.
The mishap involved two passenger boats operating on the respective routes.
The majority of the casualties were reportedly residents of Ngo town, Ataba, and Isiama communities in the Andoni Local Government Area of the state.
Gogo Obolo, the Chairman of Obolo Youths Coalition, Bonny LG chapter, confirmed the incident, stating that the passengers were on their way back from Ngo town in Andoni to Bonny Island when the accident occurred.
“The Andoni people residing in Bonny Local Government Area received shocking news of our brothers and sisters involved in a boat accident while returning from the Christmas celebrations.
READ ALSO: Tragedy Strikes on the River Niger: Boat Capsizes, Many Feared Dead
“While we pray that the rescue effort yield more success to reduce the pain of the accident, we implore the Andoni Local Government Chairman, Chief Erastus Awortu, and his counterpart in Bonny Local Government, Anengi Barasua, to visit the family of the victims in this trying period,” he said.
The Andoni Lcoal Government Area has also issued a statement confirming the incident.
The statement reads: “We received with rude shock and deep pain a disturbing report that over 20 persons from Andoni are feared dead in a boat accident involving two Andoni/Bonny-bound boats which occurred within the Andoni waterways on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
“Upon receiving the sad news, we immediately dispatched our team to join the first responders on rescue mission at the scene of the incident in a bid to salvage the situation.
“We are closely monitoring the situation to offer further support, especially to give the survivors necessary medical attention and recover the remains of the dead from the sea.
“Our hearts go out to the families and communities of victims of this unfortunate disaster, especially Ngo Town, Ataba, Isiama and other communities whose loved ones were involved in the boat mishap.
“We share in their pain and trauma; our prayers and thoughts are with them in this moment of grief. We will do whatever we can as a Local Government to reduce the burden of grief of the bereaved families and communities.
“While we bemoan the boat mishap which came at a time when our people were still basking in the mood of a successful festive season in Andoni, we call on operators of water transportation in Andoni to ensure strict compliance of all passengers to safety rules.
“We also warn the operators to desist from embarking on night journeys on sea.”
(Ships & Ports)