A wooden cargo boat named ‘Godbless Dickson’ caught fire and exploded, leading to the tragic deaths of 20 people as it sank in the waterways of Bayelsa.
Leadnaija gathered that the boat was carrying over 64 passengers and crew along with cargo.
According to Vanguard, the tragic incident happened on Wednesday near the Ezetu 1 community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
The Police spokesperson in Bayelsa, ASP Musa Mohammed, confirmed that 20 people have died, and the Marine Police unit is actively continuing rescue operations.
The cargo boat, carrying farm produce from a rural area, was headed to the Swali market in Yenagoa when the incident occurred.
Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria’s Bayelsa Chapter, Ogoniba Ipigansi, confirmed the accident on Thursday.
He mentioned that the union had deployed a rescue team with two speedboats to aid the stranded passengers.
While the exact number of casualties remains uncertain, efforts are ongoing to locate those still missing.
A speedboat operator involved in the rescue, Augustine Amayoro, reported saving 10 people but noted many passengers were left stranded at a nearby fishing camp.
The Chairman of Southern Ijaw LGA, Target Segibo, lamented the loss of 20 lives in this tragic event, describing it as a significant tragedy.
He urged stakeholders to enhance safety regulations within the marine transport sector to prevent similar incidents in the future.
