Uduaghan mourns victims of Delta boat mishap

THE former governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has commiserated with families of victims of last Saturday’s boat mishap.

Three persons were feared dead and scores hospitalised in the tragic incident which occurred along the Benin River in Warri North Local Government Area of the state.

The Senatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Delta South, who lost to his PDP counterpart, James Manager, described the boat accident as “unfortunate.”

TribuneOnline had earlier reported that a 25-seater-boat with about 22 people on board had departed Ebrohimi after Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections, but capsized near Koko after allegedly colliding with a fishing boat along the Benin River.

As of Monday morning, four persons were declared by the police unaccounted for, but were later reportedly found dead in the creeks of Warri North where the incident occured.

ALSO READ: Makinde receives LAUTECH Management, reiterates his promise

Uduaghan, who expressed sadness at the tragedy, stressed that the deceased paid the supreme price for the nation’s democracy by travelling home to their various polling units to cast their votes for the candidates of their choices in the March 9 Governorship and State Houses of  Assembly election.

He said more casualties would have been recorded from the incident, but for the quick intervention of various persons who swung into action.

Uduaghan noted that despite the difficult terrain where voters had to travel through water to their polling units located in the riverine areas, the electorate in the Warri North travelled back home in an orderly manner to ensure that their votes counted in the election.

“Our beloved three brothers died In their quest in ensuring that the votes of our people in the Riverine area count in the March 9 election.

“This is to tell Nigerians the risk our people particularly in Delta South most often go through during electioneering period to vote for the candidate of their choice.

“I commiserate with the family of the deceased and the people of Warri North,” the statement added.

The Delta APC leader, in the condolence statement signed by Mr Monoyo Edon, his Media Assistant also sympathised with victims who are still receiving treatment at various hospitals in the locality from injuries sustained during the boat accident and wished them a speedy recovery.