- The boat, locally known as a “Large Cotonou Boat,” was overloaded and lacked lifesaving equipment, with none of the passengers wearing life jackets
The Nigerian Navy rescued over 250 passengers from a capsized boat in Rivers State.
The three-deck wooden boat, identified as MV PRECIOUS EMMANUEL, departed from a local market in the Sangana area of Bayelsa State at around 10 pm on April 28, 2024.
According to Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, the Navy’s Director of Information, the boat encountered stormy waters and collided with a rock while approaching Rivers State.
The boat, locally known as a “Large Cotonou Boat,” was overloaded and lacked lifesaving equipment, with none of the passengers wearing life jackets.
The prompt response of the naval personnel ensured no lives were lost in the incident.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Navy personnel of Naval Security Station 023 deployed along Cawthorne Channel in Rivers State rescued over 250 passengers who were onboard a capsized passenger boat at about 10 pm local time on 28 April 2024.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Navy personnel of Naval Security Station 023 deployed along Cawthorne Channel in Rivers State rescued over 250 passengers who were onboard a capsized passenger boat at about 10 pm local time on 28 April 2024.
“The ill-fated boat, MV PRECIOUS EMMANUEL cast off from a local market in Sangana area of Bayelsa State and was making way to Rivers State when it encountered stormy waters and hit a wreck which damaged its hull causing it to capsize.”
Adams-Aliu noted that the boat was overloaded, lacked any life-saving equipment onboard, and none of its passengers were wearing life jackets
He said, “Notably, the locally made, three-deck wooden vessel popularly known as “Large Cotonou Boat” was overborne, had no lifesaving equipment onboard and none of its passengers wore a lifejacket. ”
He noted that no lives were lost in the incident due to the prompt response of its personnel.