One person has been confirmed dead as a speedboat carrying 15 passengers capsized along Okubie Community River in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
A community source told Nigerian Tribune that the ill-fated boat was carrying passengers from Yenagoa to Oporoma, the Southern Ijaw LGA headquarters when the unfortunate incident happened.
He said while other passengers onboard were rescued by concerned citizens in the community, one person drowned due to the rising water level this rainy season.
This incident is happening barely two weeks after a traders’ boat exploded at the fringe of the Atlantic Ocean in Ezetu 1 community in the same South Ijaw Local Government where 20 persons were confirmed dead.
The cause of the mishap is yet to be ascertained at the time of filing this report.
The Chairman of Maritime Workers Union, Mr Ipgansi Ogoniba, confirmed the incident, saying that it occurred on Saturday afternoon at the river near Okubie community.
He said that fourteen passengers were rescued while one died in the incident.
Police spokesperson in Bayelsa, ASP Musa Muhammed, said there was no information about the incident yet, he, however, promised to inquire and revert.
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