No fewer than 20 persons were killed in a boat mishap in Andoni waterways in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Erastus Awortu, the chairman of the Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, in a statement issued early Wednesday, expressed his shock at the incident.
According to him, the incident, which occurred on Tuesday night, was said to have involved two passenger boats on their way to Bonny, a nearby coastal council district.
Awortu, while lamenting that the sad tragedy occurred after successful festive events, including unification carnivals in the council region, also expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and communities at large.
He described the council’s attempts to save those who were still alive, provide first aid to the injured, and recover the bodies of the deceased from the river, vowing to mitigate the pains of the deceased families and communities in their trying moments.
In addition, the council chairman emphasised the need for boat operators to adhere to all passenger safety procedures and recommended against nighttime sea travel.
“We received with rude shock and deep pain a disturbing report that over 20 people from Andoni are feared dead in a boat mishap involving two Andoni/Bonny-bound boats that occurred within the Andoni waterways on Tuesday, January 9, 2024,” the statement stated.
“When we learned of the tragic development, we immediately dispatched our team to join the first responders on a rescue mission at the scene of the incident in an attempt to salvage the situation.
“Our hearts go out to the victims’ families and communities, particularly those in Ngo Town, Ataba, Isiama, and other communities where loved ones were involved in the boat mishap.
“We share their anguish and trauma, and our prayers and thoughts are with them during this difficult time.
“As a Local Government, we will do everything we can to alleviate the grief of bereaved families and communities.
“We also warn the operators to desist from embarking on night journeys on the sea.”
Nigeria’s boat accident in recent times
The Informant247 reports in November 2023 how a boat mishap on the Bolo waterway in Ogu/Bolo LGA of Rivers State killed a soldier with the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army (NA), Port Harcourt, the state capital while on duty.
According to Major Jonah Danjuma, the acting spokesperson of the division, in a statement, the victim was one of the soldiers deployed on duty on the waterways in the Niger Delta to safeguard national assets.
Major Danjuma said the gunboat carrying the late soldier was hit by a turbulent wave, which led to the accident.
He explained that the soldier was declared missing after the accident, adding that a search and rescue mission was launched and his corpse recovered.
Another incident that of the one happened in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State on November 16, 2023, where at least ten persons were killed in a boat mishap that occurred in the State.
The Informant247 gathered, according to the Secretary, Coalition of Shiroro Associations, Saidu Salihu, that the incident happened around 4 pm on a Thursday, adding that the victims, primarily traders, were conveying goods from the Zongoru community of Bassa ward to Gijiwa ahead of Friday market in Kuta, headquarters of Shiroro when the tragic incident happened.
Another one was that of the one that happened in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, last year, where the State Police Command confirmed the death of no fewer than 106 casualties in the unfortunate boat accident.
In a statement released by the then Command’s spokesperson, SP Ajayi Okasanmi said 144 victims were rescued in the accident that involved about 250 persons.
The incident was said to have occurred on a Monday when the victims were returning from a marriage ceremony at neighbouring Egboti village in Niger State.