21st January 2025
Three persons including a toddler were confirmed dead when a passenger boat traveling from Port Harcourt to Bonny in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State capsized on Sunday evening.
The incident which occurred at about 5 pm, was caused by a storm at an area called ‘Yellow Platform” near Bonny Island.
The boat was said to have ferried 22 passengers from the Bonny/Nembe/Bille Waterfront Jetty in Port Harcourt, boat capsized due to the storm claiming the lives of three of the occupants.
Rivers state police command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the incident, describing it as sad.
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Iringe-Koko stated, “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.”
Chairman, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Rivers Commercial District, Israel Pepple, who corroborated the police report, stated that the incident was caused by a windstorm.
“Yes, it is true. There was a boat accident 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.