A devastating boat accident on Tuesday has left at least 20 people, including children, feared dead in the Andoni-Bonny coastal waters of Rivers State.
Details remain sketchy, but the incident involved two passenger boats returning from Ngo town in Andoni to Bonny Island.
Shock and grief swept through the Andoni communities of Ngo, Ataba, and Isiama, where most of the victims hailed from. Gogo Obolo, leader of the Obolo Youths Coalition, Bonny chapter, confirmed the tragedy and urged local authorities to expedite rescue efforts and support the bereaved families.
“While we pray for more survivors, we implore the Andoni and Bonny LG chairmen to visit the families during this trying time,” Obolo pleaded.
However, Andoni Local Government Area chairman, Chief Erastus Awortu, acknowledged the accident and confirmed that a rescue team dispatched upon receiving a distress call had saved some passengers.
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Awortu expressed condolences to the victims’ families and vowed to cover the medical bills of the survivors.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and will do everything we can to aid the survivors and recover the dead,” Awortu stated.
He issued a stark warning against night journeys on the waterways and urged boat operators to strictly adhere to safety regulations.
The cause of the accident remains unclear, and efforts to reach the state police spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful.