Three people, including a toddler, lost their lives on Sunday evening when a passenger boat traveling from Port Harcourt to Bonny in Rivers State capsized due to a storm near the Yellow Platform area close to Bonny Island.
The boat, carrying 22 passengers, was caught in the storm, leading to the tragic incident. While 19 passengers were rescued, the bodies of two adults and a child were recovered.
Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed the incident, describing it as a sad occurrence. She stated, “There were 22 people on board, unfortunately, we lost three people. Two of the bodies were first recovered, and the body of the girl was later recovered. Investigation is ongoing.”
Israel Pepple, Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Rivers Commercial District, also confirmed the incident and attributed the accident to a windstorm.
In a statement issued by the Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Anengi Claude-Wilcox, the council expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives. “Preliminary findings revealed that the crash was caused by a sudden rise of the oceanic storm,” the statement read, adding that the survivors were given medical attention at the council’s expense.
The council further criticized the actions of a passenger boat that reportedly witnessed the incident but failed to assist the victims. “Information reaching the council revealed that there was a passenger boat that met the scene of the incident but refused to stop to rescue the victims,” the statement noted, urging anyone with information about the boat driver to come forward.
The local government called for strict adherence to safety rules by travelers and urged the contractor handling the Bodo-Bonny Road project to expedite work to reduce reliance on sea travel.
Residents of Bonny Island have also appealed for better safety measures for commuters along the Bonny-Port Harcourt sea route to prevent future tragedies.
