From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Twenty persons were confirmed dead in a boat mishap that occured on Wednesday at Ezetu 1 River, Southern Ijaw Local Government of Bayelsa State.
Investigations revealed that the boat popularly called ‘Denghe market Boat’ is a long big boat that sets sail on Monday and moves from community to community picking traders to arrive in Yenagoa every Thursday.
The peculiarity of the boat allowed its passengers to cook and eat in the boat till it gets to its final destination.
Investigations revealed that while in the middle of the river, the boat engine exploded and fire engulfed the wooden boat.
The explosion was said to have immediately burnt the 20 people to death, while others were said to have jumped into the river before the boat eventually sank.
Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Musa Muhammed, said rescue operation was ongoing to recover the drowned passengers of the ill-fated boat.
He said: “The local boat travelling from Ekeni community in Southern Ijaw to Yenagoa had a mishap and sank, about 20 persons were reported to have lost their lives, and efforts are ongoing to recover their corpses.”
The Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union in Bayelsa State, Mr Ipgansi Ogoniba, who also confirmed the boat accident,said the number of casualties could not be ascertained because the search operation was ongoing.
According to him, the rescue team from the union that went to the scene was able to recover one body late in the evening on Wednesday.
“The boat left Ezetu 1 community around 3 pm as they were coming to Okubie, the onboard engine they were using caught fire and exploded, so the boat got burnt and sank, some of the people on board were drowned in the water, there was no network at that point to reach the rescue team from Yenagoa because that wooden boat always takes about 18 hours to reach Yenagoa from that point, while speedboat takes like 5 hours.”
The chairperson of the Association of Coastal and Waterways Communities of Nigeria in Bayelsa state, Comrade Odede Dinikpete Tina, ascribed the larger number of casualties to the inability of the boat operators in the state to stick to safety protocols especially wearing life jackets while onboard.
Tina urged the state government to intensify efforts to link more coastal communities with roads.
According to her, despite several sensitisation the association has carried out on safety protocols, people travelling on waterways still refuse to wear life jackets.
Meanwhile, the executive chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government, Hon Target Segibo has mourned the loss of lives, calling on maritime officials and security agencies to be strict on compliance with maritime rules by boat operators.
He warned operators of the boat to place utmost value on the safety of lives and property by providing life jackets to all passengers and ensuring that their vessels are in good condition before every trip.
Meanwhile, the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has hinted that the state government would investigate circumstances surrounding the boat mishap.
Governor Diri, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, expressed the condolences of the state government to families of victims of the mishap.
He also directed the relevant ministries to immediately join the rescue efforts.
The governor said investigation would be conducted into the cause of the accident and urged boat operators to always observe safety procedures on the state’s waterways.
“The news of another tragic boat accident in our state was shocking and sad. On behalf of the state government, I extend my deepest condolences to families of victims.
“Upon hearing the news of the tragedy, I immediately directed the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and other relevant government organs to dispatch their teams to the river point to join the rescue efforts.
“This is yet one boat accident too many and the state government will take measures to avert such avoidable tragedy going forward. We will investigate the cause(s) of this mishap.
“I again implore boat operators in the state to ensure they observe proper safety procedures at all times in order to make our waterways safer.”
Meanwhile the Chairman of Southern Ijaw LGA in the state Chief Target Segibo, has urged relevant authorities to institute and implement stiffer penalties in the nation’s inland water transportation sub-sector.
Segibo said the measure would minimise incidences of boat mishap which usually claim lives.