Two dead, 13 missing after boat accident in Bayelsa

Two dead, 13 missing after boat accident in Bayelsa

Two boats have collided in the Akede community waterfront of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA) of Bayelsa State leading to the death of two persons.

Thirteen other passengers of the boats have been declared missing after the boat mishap.

The incident that occured on Tuesday evening involved a speedboat carrying passengers and a fishing boat.

A source said some divers are already in the water to rescue any of the missing passengers could be rescued.

He said a speed boat named Meeting Marine, powered by a 115HP engine and operated by a man identified as Saturday, was traveling from Anyama Ijaw towards Lubia and Foropa communities when it collided with a fishing boat at the Akede Community waterfront.

Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria in Bayelsa State, Ogoniba Ipigansi, said 13 passengers were yet to be found.

Ipigansi said the union was alerted to the accident, adding that communication challenge hampered their rescue operations as network was bad in the area.

However police spokesman in Bayelsa State, DSP Musa Muhammad, said the incident had not been reported.