A wooden cargo boat named ‘Godbless Dickson,’ carrying over 64 passengers and crew, along with cargo, exploded and sank, leaving 20 people dead in the Bayelsa waterways.
The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday, August 7, near the Ezetu 1 community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
ASP Musa Mohammed, the spokesperson for the state police command, confirmed the incident to the media, stating that 20 deaths have been confirmed so far. He added that rescue efforts by the Marine Police unit are still ongoing.
The ill-fated boat, carrying farm produce from a rural settlement, was en route to Swali market in Yenagoa.
Ogoniba Ipigansi, Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Bayelsa Chapter, commented on the incident, noting that a rescue team from the union, equipped with two speedboats, had been dispatched to assist the passengers.
Ipigansi mentioned that the exact number of casualties is still unknown, as the rescue operation is ongoing and several people remain unaccounted for.
A speedboat operator, Mr. Augustine Amayoro, who participated in the rescue efforts, reported that he managed to save 10 people from the scene, while other passengers were left stranded at a nearby fishing camp.
It was noted that wooden cargo boats like ‘Godbless Dickson’ were exempt from the state government’s ban on night navigation on waterways.
Due to their slow pace, these cargo boats typically set sail a day ahead of the targeted weekly market days on Thursdays.
