Boat tragedy claims 20 in Bayelsa
A tragedy occurred on the waters of Bayelsa State when a wooden boat carrying 20 people, primarily vendors transporting food and goods to coastal communities, caught fire and exploded in the middle of the river.
The police confirmed that all 20 occupants died in the devastating accident, which took place on the Ezetu 1 community river in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. Rescue efforts are currently underway to recover the bodies of the drowned passengers.
ASP Musa Muhammed, the spokesperson for the state police command, confirmed the incident, stating that rescue operations are ongoing. He explained, “The local boat traveling from Ekeni community in Southern Ijaw to Yenagoa encountered a mishap and sank, resulting in the deaths of about 20 people. We are working to recover their bodies.”
A community source reported that the incident occurred around 4:30 pm on Wednesday when the boat, which was carrying passengers including market women, caught fire while returning from Ezetu community. The boat operated a weekly makeshift market route from community to community along the coast before heading back to Yenagoa.
Mr. Ipgansi Ogoniba, Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union in Bayelsa State, confirmed the accident, noting that the boat caught fire en route to Okubie community, resulting in the burning and sinking of the vessel. Although he could not provide an exact casualty count due to ongoing search operations, the union’s rescue team recovered one body late Wednesday evening.
Ogoniba added, “The boat left Ezetu 1 community around 3 pm heading to Okubie. The engine caught fire and exploded, causing the boat to burn and sink. Some passengers drowned, and there was no network available to reach the rescue team from Yenagoa. The wooden boat typically takes about 18 hours to reach Yenagoa, compared to 5 hours for a speedboat.”
Comrade Odede Dinikpete Tina, Chairperson of the Association of Coastal and Waterways Communities of Nigeria in Bayelsa State, attributed the high number of casualties to the failure of boat operators to follow safety protocols, particularly regarding life jackets. She urged the state government to enhance road connectivity to coastal communities to reduce the frequent loss of lives on the waterways. Despite repeated safety awareness campaigns, Tina lamented that many passengers continue to neglect wearing life jackets while traveling by water.
