An explosion involving a moving wooden boat in Bayelsa State community of Ezetu in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday claimed 20 lives and left several others injured, with some still missing.
The engine of the wooden boat popularly known as ‘Denghe’ and used as a moving market’ caught fire after the explosion in the middle of the river and sank at Ezetu l community river.
It was gathered that the market boat usually goes from community to community along the coastal areas on weekly basis to do makeshift market before returning to Yenagoa.
Confirming the incident to journalists on Thursday, the state Police spokesman, ASP Musa Muhammed said “The local boat traveling from Ekeni community in Southern Ijaw to Yenagoa had a mishap and sank, and about 20 persons were reported to have lost their lives, efforts are ongoing to recover their corpses.”
He stressed that rescue efforts are ongoing to recover the drowned passengers of the ill-fated boat.
The Chairman of Maritime Workers Union in Bayelsa State, Mr. Ipgansi Ogoniba, also confirming the accident, said the local boat was sailing to Okubie community when it caught fire in the middle of the river and burnt some of the passengers onboard.
According to him, “The boat left Ezetu 1 community around 3p.m. as they were coming to Okubie, the onboard engine they were using got fire and exploded, so the boat got burnt and sink, some of the people onboard were drowned in the water, there was no network at that point to reach the rescue team from Yenagoa, because that wooden boat always take about 18 hours to reach Yenagoa from that point, while speedboat takes like five hours.”
Meanwhile, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has expressed sadness over the boat mishap.
He said: “The news of another tragic boat accident in our state was shocking and sad. On behalf of the state government, I extend my deepest condolences to families of the victims.
“Upon hearing the news of the tragedy, I immediately directed the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and other relevant government organs to dispatch their teams to the river point to join the rescue efforts.
“This is yet one boat accident too many and the state government will take measures to avert such avoidable tragedy going forward. We will investigate the cause(s) of this mishap.
“I again implore boat operators in the state to ensure they observe proper safety procedures at all times in order to make our waterways safer.”
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