By Premium Times
The police in Delta State, Southern Nigeria, say five passengers have died in a boat mishap at Bennett Island.
The state’s police spokesperson, Bright Edafe, disclosed this on Tuesday in Warri, the state capital.
Edafe said six other persons were injured in the accident, 19 persons were rescued while one person was still missing.
“Five found dead, six persons injured and still receiving treatment, 19 persons rescued and one still missing,” Edafe said, without giving further details.
Witnesses who did not want to be named said the ill-fated boat was returning from a burial ceremony in the wee hours of Saturday when the unfortunate incident occurred.
The boat, which had conveyed about 30 passengers, had a head-on collision with a submerged log on the waterway. It capsized and threw all passengers on board into the water.
“The tragic incident threw the passengers onboard the boat into the water. Of course, many of them were unable to swim and were also not wearing life vests, so they drowned immediately.
“The body of a toddler was found floating on the creek hours after the tragic mishap,” one of the sources said.
This is one of many boat mishaps recorded across Nigeria. The last such accident which happened weeks ago killed over 150 passengers.
