CITIZENS COMPASS– Two persons were dead while others were injured when a passenger-boat collided with a fishing boat in Bayelsa State.
The tragedy occurred at about 4.30p.m on Tuesday, at the Akede community waterfront in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.
It was learned that the ill-fated boat was conveying passengers from Anyama Ijaw and heading for the deep creeks of Southern Ijaw when the collision occurred.
A community source told reporters on Wednesday that two persons in the fishing boat, a woman and a girl, drowned.
The source added that, at the time of the incident, there was a network challenge in the area, thereby obstructing communication.
According to him, a speed boat powered by a 115HP engine was travelling from Anyama Ijaw towards Lubia and Foropa communities when it collided with a fishing boat at the Akede community waterfront.
“A woman and a young girl on board the fishing boat tragically drowned,” he said, adding that all the passengers in the speedboat survived the accident.
The Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria in Bayelsa State, Comrade Ogoniba Ipigansi, confirmed the incident, saying two persons lost their lives.
Comrade Ipigansi stated that the union was alerted to the accident, and the communication challenge hampered their rescue operations, as the network was challenging in the area.
Spokesman for the state police command, DSP Musa Muhammad, also confirmed the incident.
He said the speedboat driver was in police custody for questioning.
At press time, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), was yet to make an official statement.
