August 08, (THEWILL) – A wooden cargo boat laden with over 64 passengers and crew, on Wednesday, exploded and burst into flames, leaving 20 dead in Bayelsa waterways.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, ASP Musa Mohammed, said the incident occurred along the Ezetu 1 Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA) of the State.
The ill-fated cargo boat, identified as ‘Godbless Dickson’, laden with farm produce from the rural settlement, was en route to Swali market in Yenagoa.
Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Bayelsa Chapter, Ogoniba Ipigansi, said a rescue team of the union, consisting of two speedboats, had been dispatched to the scene to assist the passengers on board.
A speedboat operator, Mr Augustine Amayoro, who participated in rescue efforts, said he rescued 10 persons from the scene, leaving other passengers stranded in the nearby fishing camp.
Meanwhile, Chief Target Segibo, Chairman of Southern Ijaw LGA, who bemoaned the loss of 20 persons in the incident, described the disaster as regrettable. He called for concerted efforts by stakeholders to strengthen safety regulations in the marine transport sector.
