A tragic cargo boat accident occurred on Wednesday along the Ezetu I community river in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, leading to the recovery of nineteen bodies.
Earlier, Allnews.ng reported that a boat capsized in Bayelsa State, resulting in the deaths of 30 people. The ill-fated boat, carrying traders—mostly women—and their goods, left Ezetu I community around 3 p.m. for Swali in Yenagoa, the state capital. The boat’s engine reportedly exploded, causing a fire and subsequent sinking of the vessel mid-river.
At least twenty people, many of whom were of Igbo descent, lost their lives in the incident. As of this report, local divers and Marine Division personnel from the Nigeria Police have recovered nineteen bodies.
On Friday, sixteen of the deceased were transported to the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa and placed in the morgue, with the remaining three expected to arrive by tomorrow morning. Dr. Faith Zibs-Godwin, the State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, along with other senior government officials, received the bodies at the Marine Police near the Federal Medical Centre.
The Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union, Bayelsa State chapter, Ipigansi Ogoniba, confirmed the recovery efforts on Friday night, noting that the bodies were recovered following a thorough search operation by local divers, the Nigerian Police Force, and other relevant agencies.
“The search and rescue team have recovered nineteen bodies and they have brought sixteen of the bodies to Yenagoa which were deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre. Three of the bodies are still at Ezetu and we are expecting them tomorrow (Saturday),”
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