Many missing as boat capsizes in Bayelsa

Many persons feared missing as a wooden boat conveying people from Yenagoa to Okpoama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State capsized.

It was gathered that the incident happened at about 1:30 pm on Thursday at Okoroma River in Nembe local government area of the state.

The boat was said to be conveying passengers and goods before it sank in the middle of the river.

According to Daily Trust, some parents who were onboard the ill-fated boat have been searching for their missing children.

The Chairman of Maritime Union Workers in Bayelsa State, Ipigansi Ogoniba, who confirmed the incident on phone, said they have already sent a rescue team to the scene.

Assistant Secretary of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Okpoama unit, Tari Stanley Dikuma who was part of rescue operation at the site of the mishap said no life was lost but goods worth millions of Naira were lost and some items rescued.

“So far we have not recorded any casualty but we have salvaged a lot of items with speed boats, badge and open boats,” he said.

The State Police spokesman, SP Asinim Butswat, when contacted said the incident had not been reported to the police division in Nembe local government.