Bayelsa-based pastor, in-laws drown as boats collide on New Year’s eve

Bayelsa-based pastor, in-laws drown as boats collide on New Year’s evA 39-year-old clergy and seven other travellers drowned along Ogbeinbiri Community river in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State when two boats conveying passengers collided on Friday.

According to the locals, one of the ill-fated boats was transporting a sick woman to hospital in Yenagoa, the state capital, through Amassoma waterway when it collided with another boat, killing the 39-year-old Pastor and seven other passengers.

The incident was said to have happened around 1:30a.m. on Friday.

The state government had placed a restriction on movement in waterways during night to check accidents and insecurity.

The deceased Pastor was identified as the General Overseer of the Supernatural Church of God located in Ogbeinbiri community, while three other victims of the accident were identified as relatives and in-laws of the pastor.

It was gathered that local divers searching for survivors were able to rescue only one person.

They identified those still missing as Augustine Kieribo, Felix Azazi, Stephen Moses also known as Kekere, Adibo Kekere’s mother, Tou Kekere’s wife, and others.

The sick lady, according to a community source, was admitted at the Cottage Hospital in Ogbienbiri but that the hospital lacked oxygen which was needed to get her out of coma.

The Bayelsa State Chapter Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Ogoniba Ipigansi, confirmed the tragic incident.

Already, the senator representing Bayelsa Central in the National Assembly, Senator Cleopas Moses, has commiserated with the people of Ogboinbiri Community and the families that lost loved ones.

Bayelsa State Police command is yet to confirm the incident as the spokesman, SP Asinim Butswat, promised to find out and revert.