Three people have been confirmed dead when a passenger boat travelling from Port Harcourt to Bonny in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State capsized on Sunday evening.
A report gathered that the incident was caused by a storm at an area called ‘Yellow Platform” near Bonny Island at about 5 pm.
The boat was said to have ferried 22 passengers from the Bonny/Nembe/Bille Waterfront Jetty in Port Harcourt but three of the occupants did not make it when the boat capsized due to the storm.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone on Monday afternoon, describing it as sad.
“There were 22 people on board, unfortunately, we lost three people. Two of the bodies were first recovered and the body of the girl was later recovered.
“It is very sad, but 19 passengers were rescued. They were en route to Bonny Island from Port Harcourt when the boat capsized at the Yellow Platform in Bonny. Investigation is ongoing.”
Also speaking, the Chairman, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Rivers Commercial District, Israel Pepple, corroborated the police confirmation that the incident was caused by a windstorm”,he said.
Eyewitnesses also stated that “Yes, it is true. There was a boat accident yesterday (Sunday). We lost some lives, two male adults and a girl. The boat left Port Harcourt and was going to Bonny,” adding that their bodies had been recovered.
Meanwhile, the Bonny Local Government authorities have commiserated with their various families.
