InsightnaijaTV has learned that at least six people were killed after a boat capsized in a Bayelsa town last Saturday.
A member of the National Youth Service Corps was apparently engaged in the boat incident that occurred between the settlements of Otuan and Ayama in the state’s Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
Last Saturday, the 15-passenger boat apparently collided with a barrier while attempting to berth near the Ayama settlement.
Last Saturday, the town was hit by an early morning rainstorm. According to reports, this caused all of the passengers to cover themselves in tarpaulins, decreasing their visibility and adding to the catastrophe.
Among the passengers who drowned in a boat accident was a pregnant mother. The disaster claimed the lives of a woman and her two children, as well as a 70-year-old Otuan chief.
The boat, as well as the bodies of the deceased, are still missing at the time of this report, InsightnaijaTV reports
The Chairman of the Maritime Union in Otuan Community, Joseph Shedrack, confirmed the occurrence, telling Channels TV that the boat driver, Lucky Christopher, who survived the accident, has been detained by the Ayama police unit for alleged reckless driving.
Ipigansi Ogoniba, the State Chairman of the Maritime Union, revealed, however, that six people had been confirmed as missing and deceased.
“Six persons died. When the boat got to Ayama, it had a mishap. One corpse was recovered and handed to the family for proper burial.
“While three adults and three children were still missing or probably dead,” he said.
