Bayelsa boat accident: Corps member, 3 others found dead

Corpses of the female corps member and three others including a 70-year-old chief from Otuan Community who drowned in Saturday’s boat mishap in Bayelsa State have been found.

According to sources in the community, the corpses of other victims of the boat mishap that occurred along the Otuan and Ayama communities of the Southern Ijaw Local Government council area are still missing.

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Daily Trust gathered that the boat accident was allegedly caused by bad weather, poor visibility and the lack of life jackets for passengers.

According to boat operators at Ayama waterfront, the corpses of the victims, particularly the female corps member, identified as Immaculate from Rivers State and the 70-year-old chief from Otuan, were found floating on Sunday night close to the scene of the incident.

Bayelsa State Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union, Comrade Ipigansi Ogoniba, who confirmed that the union and the search teams were notified of the corpses of the victims floating on the river close to the scene of the accident, added that the recovered corpses have been handed over the families of the deceased, while the two toddlers are still missing.

He disclosed that the authority of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) has been notified of the recovery of the corpse of the deceased female corps member.

Also speaking, Mr Domo Timi, who is the son of the 70-year-old victim, confirmed that while the corpse of his father was deposited at the Niger Delta Teaching Hospital at Okolobiri, the remains of the corps member was deposited at the Federal Medical centre.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, SP Asinim Butswat, has denied the rumoured arrest of the boat driver, Lucky Christopher.

He said the driver of the ill-fated boat was only invited by the police for questioning on why he conveyed the victims during a heavy rainstorm.