Safety concerns have reached a breaking point in Bayelsa State following two horrific boat accidents in just two days.
In the first incident along the Abedigbene waterways in Brass LGA, a passenger boat traveling from Yenagoa to Akassa capsized.
Seven people were rescued by local divers and the Nigerian Navy—including the State Commissioner for Trade & Commerce, Dr. Ebiere Jones, and an NSCDC officer.
Tragically, a serving police officer aboard went missing and was later confirmed drowned.
In the second incident along the shoreline of Angalabiri community in Sagbama LGA, an oil tanker belonging to Sterling Global Oil Limited reportedly navigated too close to the shore, crushing multiple local canoes.
A female passenger sustained severe injuries, was rushed to Ebedeibiri General Hospital, and was sadly pronounced dead by the doctor on duty.
The Police Command has extended deep condolences to the victims’ families, while urging commercial ship operators to stop driving close to small canoe routes and calling on all commuters to always wear life jackets.
Who takes the blame here—should heavy oil tankers be completely banned from navigating near local canoe routes, or is poor safety enforcement on our waterways to blame?
