From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Five members of the same family and six other people reportedly lost their lives when a passenger boat carrying 25 people was involved in an accident, along Andoni-Bonny River in Rivers State.
Daily Sun gathered that the incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, when the boat belonging to Mr. Ajayi Promise Festus was struck by heavy wave which divided and destroyed the boat.
It was also learnt that Mr. Festus, his wife, Mrs. Rose Promise, four children and little grandchild and 18 other passengers were onboard the boat, which took off from Ngo Town in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
A community source from Bonny, who craved to remain anonymous, disclosed that 14 passengers, including the boat owner, Festus, his wife, Rose, and 12 others were among the survivors, who were rescued by divers.
The source narrated: “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, four of his children and his little grandchild, had departed Ngo town to Bonny, their settlement, around 2pm, yesterday, January 8, 2024.
“While travelling, 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 were 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, five were the children and the little grandchild of Mr. Ayayi Promise Festus, the driver and owner of the boat who is a fisherman. Sadly.”
The source said three bodies have so far been recovered and eight others still missing.
He said: “Thus far, three bodies have been discovered and eight are still missing, and currently being searched for.”
Meanwhile, the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed deepest grief over the unfortunate boat mishap that happened on the Andoni – Bonny sea route, on Tuesday, leading to the loss of many lives. The governor, in a statement, sympathised with the affected families of the dead and all the victims of the boat mishap.
Governor Fubara assured that his administration would continue to work to ensure that travelling on the sea routes becomes safer for travellers and riverine community dwellers.
He expressed: “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 travelling on our sea routes are tackled.”