BOAT MISHAP: 23 Victims Get Mass Burial …Amaechi Condoles Victims’ Families: 14 Rescued, Including Two-Year Old Baby: Obio/Akpor Promises Ferry Boats

It was a day of weeping and wailing for relations of the 23 victims of the Mgbuodohia River boat mishap in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State who were buried in a mass grave by the riverside, Wednesday.

Though the exact number of lives lost in the incident may never be ascertained, it was learnt that the ill-fated boat was loaded with over 40 passengers before it went down midstream at about 9.00pm on the fateful Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who visited the scene of the incident, Wednesday promised that government would get to the root causes of the accident in order to prevent a reoccurrence.

Represented by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker, Amaechi expressed deep sadness over the incident and commiserated with the immediate families of the victims over the loss of their loved ones.

He described the incident as very unfortunate especially at this Yuletide period and prayed the Almighty God to grant those who lost their lives eternal rest.

Also speaking at the scene, the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Mr Timothy Nsirim, who was represented by his deputy said the council would buy two speed boats to help in ferrying people across the Mgbuodohia River in Rumuolumemi from the Agip waterside in Port Harcourt.

In an interview, some of the rescuers who conducted the mass burial said 23 bodies were found floating on the river, adding that relevant authorities including the marine police and the Obio/Akpor Local Government council were intimated accordingly.

They attributed the cause of the accident to overloading of the boat with passengers and goods by the driver, adding that 14 persons had so far been rescued.

Also, a community leader in Mgbuodohia, Rumuolumeni, has appealed to the state government to come to their aid by constructing roads that would link the community to Port Harcourt.

He averred that the incident would have been avoided if there was an access road to the community, other than the waterways which, according to him, had become a major form of transportation among the people of the community.

Meanwhile, rescue efforts are being intensified by the villagers and other sympathisers in a bid to find more bodies.

Speaking on the incident in his palace, paramount ruler of Rumuolumeni Community, HRH Eze Ndubueze Wobo expressed concern over the loss of lives on the river.

He called on the sate government to find lasting solution to the problem by constructing the Mgbuodohia-Nkpor-Iwofe Road.

The traditional ruler who warned boat operators to avoid overloading also stressed the need for Obio/Akpor local government council to put in place bye-laws that would guide marine transport operations in the area.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has promised to investigate the causes of the incident.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker, who said this during a visit to the area also commiserated with families of the victims of the boat incident.

Speaking on the incident, the Rivers State Police spokesman, Mr Ben Ugwuegbulam said that as at yesterday 26 bodies had been recovered.

In a related development, the state government has directed all marine transporters to stop operations on or before 6.00 pm daily.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Dr Somiari Isaac-Harry aid this while reacting to the recent boat mishap at Mgbuodohia Community, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

Dr Isaac-Harry said the directive was to forestall any future occurrence in the state while warning marine transporters to avoid overloading or risk being arrested by law enforcement agents.

According to him, “the Rivers State Government in carrying out its statutory responsibilities which include protecting lives and property would not hesitate to arrest and prosecute any marine transporter that violates this order.”

He, however, extended the state government’s condolence to the victims’ families. Meanwhile, Senator George Thomspon Sekibo has also expressed his condolence to the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chubuike Rotimi Amaechi and the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Prince Timothy Nsirim over the fatal boat mishap that occurred between the Eagle Island and Mgbuodohia community, on Tuesday.

“Coming at a time when many people are looking forward to celebrating the Christmas and end of year activities, the accident which claimed several lives is a major disaster as we have lost vibrant men and women whose contributions to the development of the state and Obio/Akpor in Port Harcourt are immeasurable,” Sekibo noted.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Rlations Officer (PPRO) of the State Police Command, Mr Ben Uguegbulam, said several people were feared dead when a wooden boat travelling from Eagle Island capsized at Mgbuodohia with over 40 passengers on board.

Mr Ugwuegbulam said some of the victims were rescued, including a two year old baby, while a combined rescue team of marine police operation, Rumuolumeni police, Save Our Soul, and the Navy are still searching for bodies of the victims.

Collins Barasimieye,

Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker (right), listening to leader of the local rescue team during a condolence visit to Rumuolumeni Community and families of victims of Tuesday’s boat mishap at Nkpor River, on Wednesday.

John Bibor and Akujobi Amadi