Boat capsizes in Bayelsa, three people are killed and several more are missing

A boat carrying passengers and supplies sank in Bayelsa State, leaving three people confirmed dead and a number of others reported missing.

The boat capsized in the Yenagoa-Brass waterways at Okoroma in Nembe Local Government District, carrying an average of around 100 passengers, mostly traders.

The bodies that were retrieved were those of Mrs. Biodoumoye Romeo and Ms. Ayebatorudigiyo Amakiri, according to a source who participated in the rescue effort; the third victim, a boat worker, remained unidentified.

The incident happened on Thursday around 1:30. Even though search operations are still underway, the tragedy has devastated the Nembe and Brass villages.

Ogoniba Ipigansi, the Bayelsa State Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, confirmed the occurrence and said that millions of naira’s worth of cargo were lost.

He also claims that three deaths have been officially confirmed.

“The MV Tari capsized, and we have been trying to save the cargo and the people,” he added. Some of the objects have been located. We attempted to retrieve the items using barges, speed boats, and open boats, but we were unsuccessful.

A similar vessel, MV Believer, went down last year near Okoroma.