Eighteen persons were rescued, while four others are yet missing when a boat overturned on March 9 in Delta State, after the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Warri North Local Government Area of the State.
The Commissioner of Police, Adeyinka Adeleke, who confirmed the development in Asaba, said the boat overturned at Ureju community, while conveying locals and security operatives from Ward 03 (Ebrohimi) to the council headquarters in Koko town.
Adeleke said those lucky to be rescued included the three police officers and 15 locals, while two of the victims were rushed to the hospital.
The Police Commissioner also confirmed that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were not involved in the boat accident, and called for calm, adding that search for the missing passengers was still in progress.
The State Resident Electoral Commission, Dr. Cyril Omorogbe, had earlier confirmed the boat mishap. He said election officials were not involved and materials not affected.
