By: Felix Ikpotor
Atleast 11 passengers have drowned following a boat mishap that occurred along the Andoni- Bonny river in Rivers State on Monday.
The boat was said to be conveying passengers from Andoni to Bonny.
Community sources said the fishing boat which conveyed the passengers belonged to one Mr. Ayayi Promise Festus whose family members were also involved in the incident.
The source said heavy wave on the sea led to the mishap.
“The fishing boat which is the only source of livelihood for Mr. Ayayi Promise Festus from Ngo, carried 25 passengers, including his wife, Mrs Rose Promise, 4 of his children and his little grandchild, had departed Ngo town to Bonny, their settlement, around 2:00pm, yesterday 8th January 2024.
“While traveling, the boat was struck by a heavy wave around Bonny river which divided and destroyed the big boat.
“As at when this unfortunate incident occurred there was no rescue team to save the 25 passengers on board. Hours later when rescue team came 11 passengers had drowned while 14 passengers including Mr. Ayayi Promise Festus and wife were rescued.
“Among the 11 passengers who drowned 5 were the children and the little grandchild of Mr. Ayayi Promise Festus, the driver and owner of the boat who’s a fisherman. Sadly!
The source said as at Tuesday only three bodies were discovered.
“Thus far, 3 bodies have been discovered and 8 are still missing, and currently being searched for”.
Erastus Awortu, the chairman of Andoni LGA, who confirmed the development in a statement, expressed shock and condoled the families and communities of the victims.
The statement reads in part, “We received with rude shock and deep pain a disturbing report that over 20 persons from Andoni are feared dead in boat mishap involving two Andoni/Bonny-bound boats which occurred within the Andoni waterways on Tuesday January, 9, 2024.
“Upon receiving the sad development, 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.”
Meanwhile, Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has expressed deepest grief over the unfortunate boat mishap.
In a statement, the governor condoled and sympathized with the affected families of the dead and indeed all the victims of the boat mishap.
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will continue to work to ensure that traveling on the sea routes becomes safer for travelers and riverine community dwellers.
“I commiserate and condole with families of the victims of the boat accident that led to the loss of lives, and near death experienced by our brothers and sisters that were involved in the boat mishap.
“It is indeed a very unfortunate and sad incident and we pray that, God shall give all of them the strength to bear the loss and speedy recovery to those who survived.
“As a government, we will continue to work to ensure that such threats against safe traveling on our sea routes are tackled, ” the statement said.
