One person has died while four others sustained injuries in a boat mishap that occurred on the Gelegele River in Ovia South West Local Government of Edo State.
However sources in the area who spoke to journalists, claimed that about seven persons died in the boat mishap.
One Iyke Ayedi, who shared photos from the scene said several persons were missing.
It was gathered that the boat accident happened on Thursday, October 19, 2023, when a passenger boat collided with an oil barge belonging to one of the multinational oil companies operating in the area.
The oil barge was said to have run out of fuel and was waiting to be refuelled when the on-coming passenger’s boat rammed into it killing one person and injuring four others.
It was further gathered that the boat was conveying passengers, mostly market women from the Ofunama community, who were returning from the market.
Following the quick response from the Marine Police of the Edo State Police Command stationed in the area, a major tragedy was averted as most of the victims were rescued.
A senior member of staff of the oil company, who did not want his name in print, confirmed the incident, adding the company was meeting on the issue.
“Our barges and tug boat were anchored at our jetty and that day incidentally was Ekheuan market day. If you have been to our jetty before, we have three barges that are normally there, they have been there before 1987 and that was not the only boat that passed through that place that day,” the source said.
“The police were involved in the rescue operations and they know everything that happened. The Army speed boat was also close by and witnessed everything that happened, it is not something that was not in public view.
“The community chairman works for the company that owns the barge. He was there just for his routine inspection when he saw the incident.
He was the one who first mobilised some divers from the community for rescue operations”, the company source said.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the accident.
“Marine police confirmed that one person died and four others injured. Twenty-five persons were involved in the accident, one died and four were injured while others were rescued unhurt,” he said.
The PPR called on the people to imbibe a safety culture and to make sure that the right thing was done to avoid such incidents.
