20 feared dead, scores missing in Bayelsa boat explosion – Newstrends
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20 feared dead, scores missing in Bayelsa boat explosion

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20 feared dead, scores missing in Bayelsa boat explosion

A devastating incident occurred on Wednesday along the Ezetu 1 community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA) of Bayelsa State, as a wooden cargo boat, identified as ‘Godbless Dickson,’ exploded and burst into flames, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 people.

The boat was carrying over 64 passengers and crew members, along with a cargo of farm produce.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported the tragedy on Thursday, with ASP Musa Mohammed, the Police Spokesman in Bayelsa, confirming the deaths of 20 people. Rescue efforts by the Marine Police unit and other responders are still underway, with many passengers yet to be accounted for.

The ill-fated boat was en route from a rural settlement to the Swali market in Yenagoa, a regular destination for farm produce. The exact cause of the explosion remains unclear, but the incident has sent shockwaves through the region.

Mr. Ogoniba Ipigansi, Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Bayelsa Chapter, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview. He noted that a rescue team from the union, comprising two speedboats, was dispatched to the scene to assist the stranded passengers.

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Despite the ongoing rescue efforts, the total number of casualties has not yet been determined. Several passengers remain unaccounted for, with some possibly stranded at a nearby fishing camp. Mr. Augustine Amayoro, a speedboat operator involved in the rescue mission, reported saving 10 people from the wreckage, but many others remain missing.

It was gathered that wooden cargo boats like ‘Godbless Dickson’ are exempt from the state government’s ban on night navigation in the waterways, due to their slower speed, which necessitates an earlier departure to reach markets on time. The boat had set sail in preparation for the busy market day at Swali waterside in Yenagoa, where farm produce is typically sold on Thursdays.

Chief Target Segibo, Chairman of Southern Ijaw LGA, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of life, calling the disaster “regrettable.” He emphasized the need for concerted efforts from stakeholders to enhance safety regulations within the marine transport sector to prevent future tragedies.

As the community mourns the loss of lives, rescue operations continue in hopes of finding more survivors, while the cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

20 feared dead, scores missing in Bayelsa boat explosion

(NAN)

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200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS

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Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa

200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has disclosed that about 200,000 repentant terrorists have so far dropped their arms and surrendered to troops in the North East, noting that the twin strategy of kinetic and non-kinetic operations was responsible for this achievement.

The CDS made this known at the Security and Justice Symposium organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with the British High Commission, which began at the National Counterterrorism Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.

He disclosed that the theme of the symposium, ”Securing Peace, Ensuring Justice, Protection, Conduct, and Accountability,” speaks volumes about the deluge of security challenges the armed forces and security agencies are facing.

His words, “All the challenges we are facing today have to do with fairness, equity, justice, and accountability.

“There will not be peace without justice, equity, fairness, and accountability. In our operations, we are conducting both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, which have to a large extent yielded significant successes, and we want to particularly thank the National Security Adviser for his great support in this regard.

“Nigeria is going through so many challenges, and we feel we’re able to address this, and everybody has a sense of belonging. A lot of the security challenges we are having, we are sure, will go down. I want to thank the National Security Advisor for all the support he’s given us, both the kinetic and the non-kinetic.

“We have said it; the kinetic aspect is just less than 30%. The non-kinetic has a lot to play. The non-kinetic, because when you have democracy, people must have the evidence of democracy. As long as it tells people to sleep well and be peaceful, and they are hungry, their children cannot eat, and all this creates more problems.

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“The issue of informants. We have to look at how we tackle this issue of informants. Because these are the people who have created the issue.

200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS

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Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police

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Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police

The spokesperson for the police in Delta State, SP Bright Edafe, has confirmed the death of two robbery suspects in the state.

Mr Edafe, who disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Warri, said that the deceased were killed from the bullets shot by their gang members.

According to him, the incident occurred on Wednesday at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Edafe explained that the deceased were leading the police surveillance team attached to the Ekpan Division to their hideout when they were caught during a shoot-out.

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“The suspects were arrested at Effurun roundabout with a bag containing 57 live cartridges and other items. They were leading the surveillance team to their hideout at Warri/Sapele road when their gang members, on sighting the vehicle of the police team, engaged them in a shootout.During the gun duel, the arrested suspects that were leading the police team were fatally wounded by the gun shot of their colleagues. The two injured suspects were taken to the hospital and later died while receiving treatment,” he said.

Mr Edafe said that items recovered from the hoodlums hideout included: one English pump action gun, one locally made cut-to-size gun and eight live cartridges.

Others were: six iPhones, Smart phones and a Rolex wrist watch.

He said that the command had intensified manhunt on the fleeing members of the gang.

 

Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police

(NAN)

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Akwa Ibom businessman abducted, driver killed, police orderly injured

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Dr. Samuel Ekerenam
Akwa Ibom businessman abducted, driver killed, police orderly injured
Gunmen kidnapped a prominent businessman, Dr. Samuel Ekerenam and k!lled his driver in Eket town, the headquarter of Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Ekerena, the owner of Hephzibah Mall, was abducted about 10:00pm on Saturday, 23 November, 2024.
It was gathered that the gunmen trailed the victim to the shopping complex, shooting sporadically to scare the passers-by away before whisking him away to an unknown destination.
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The body of Ekerenam’s driver was discovered in the pool of his blood, while his police orderly was severely wounded in the gun attack.
The spokesperson of the State Police Command, ASP Timfon John, who confirmed the incident on Monday, November 25, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph Eribo has deployed tactical operatives to comb for the abducted businessman.
The PPRO added that the police were on top of the game and very soon the kidnap victim would be rescued and the perpetrators made to face the full weight of the law.

Akwa Ibom businessman abducted, driver killed, police orderly injured

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