No fewer than 11 out of 25 passengers on board a cargo boat travelling from Andoni to Bonny have died in a boat mishap along the Andoni-Bonny waterways.
It was gathered that a fishing boat belonging to one Ayayi Promise-Festus from Ngo in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State conveyed 25 passengers including children, who were returning to their base in Bonny, after the yuletide festivities.
Survivors explained that the boat was struck by a heavy wave around Cawthorne Channel near Bonny, which split the boat into pieces causing the passengers to drown.
One of the survivors, Ayayi Promise-Festus, said it took the efforts of a rescue team hours before the accident, to rescue 14 passengers, while 11 passengers had already drowned, as three dead bodies have been recovered and eight were still missing, and currently being searched for.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Dr Erastus Awortu, who described the incident as sad, said a rescue team had been dispatched to salvage the situation.
Awortu who assured that the Council will do whatever it can as a Local Government to reduce the burden of grief of the bereaved Families and communities, however, warned boat operators to desist from night journeys.
He said, “We received with rude shock and deep pain a disturbing report that over 20 persons from Andoni are feared dead in a boat mishap involving two Andoni-Bonny-bound boats which occurred within the Andoni waterways on Tuesday 9th January 2024.
“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.
“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 a night journey by sea.”
Credit: SweetCrude Reports
