Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, has sympathised with the families of the victims of boat mishap which occurred on the Andoni – Bonny sea route in the state last Tuesday.
THISDAY gathered that the boat, which boarded about 25 passengers en route Andoni to Bonny, had a serious wave attack within the Bonny axis, and resulted in the death of 11 persons.
It was also gathered that 14 passengers were rescued by divers, while three dead bodies have been recovered, eight still missing as at the time of filing this report. A source very close to some of the victims disclosed that the incident claimed the lives of four children and a grandchild of two of the survivals.
The source explained that: “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, and had departed Ngo town to Bonny, their settlement, around 2p.m. on January 8.
“While traveling, 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 Festus and wife were rescued.”
The source continued that: “Among the 11 passengers, who drowned, five were the children and the little grandchild of Mr. Festus, the driver and owner of the boat, who’s a fisherman.
“Thus far, three bodies have been discovered and eight are still missing, and currently being searched for.”
Meanwhile, Governor Fubara has expressed grief over the boat mishap that led to the loss of many lives.
In a statement issued by the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor, Boniface Onyedi, Fubara promised that his administration would continue to work to ensure that traveling on the sea routes becomes safer for travelers and riverine community dwellers.
He said: “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 incident, and we pray that God shall give all of them the strength to bear the loss and speedy recovery for those who survived.”
The governor added: “As a government, we will continue to work to ensure that such threats against safe traveling on our sea routes are tackled.”
