Two Children, Eight Women Die In Rivers Boat Mishap

* Seven missing, four corps members rescued

No fewer than 10 persons comprising two children and eight women died Friday morning when a passenger boat capsized in Bonny River, Rivers State.

Sources from Bonny said the boat sank about 10 minutes after it left the shore of Bonny, while ferrying passengers to Port Harcourt, the state capital.

An eyewitness said relatives of those who traveled in the boat broke down in tears when the news of the mishap, which occurred around 7:30a.m, filtered into the communities on the Island.
It was also learnt that the boat, which was meant to ferry 28 persons, took about 35 passengers, suggesting that the accident could have been caused by overloading.

An eyewitness, who gave his name as Adolf, said about 18 persons, including four Youth Corps members were rescued by local drivers and volunteers, adding; “As we speak, two children in the boat were brought out lifeless. Eight other persons have also been brought out and they are all believed to have died.

“Five corps members were also in the boat, but four of them were among the 18 persons rescued,” he said. Travelers at Bonny jetty from which the boat set sail blamed the boat driver for the mishap, saying he carried more than the boat’s capacity.

It was gathered that the boat was covered, leaving only one way of exit, which is responsible for the high casualty figure. “You can see that all the passengers onboard wore live jackets but it was difficult for them to remain afloat because of the way the boat is built,” an eyewitness said.

The state police, while confirming the incident, said seven persons including a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member were still missing at the time of filing in this report.

Assistant spokesperson of the state Police Command, Mrs. Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident to our reporter, saying,” Yes it is true. Seven persons are missing.”

Also, the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Bonny Local Government Area, Adoye Wilcox, confirmed the incident, adding that the boat may have hit a sharp object. “It is unfortunate that this incident happened. About 10 bodies have been recovered. 

The marine police, local boat operators and volunteers are still on rescue operation,” he said. Wilcox, however, appealed to the federal and state governments to speed up work on the Bonny Island link road to check such mishaps.