Pastor Promise Festus, the owner of the boat that capsized on Andoni-Bonny Sea route, has disclosed that his five children died in the mishap.
Festus, who survived the incident with his wife, however, called for help from the government and well-meaning individuals, noting that he has lost all his belongings in the incident.
It would be recalled that a boat conveying 25 people from Ngo area of Andoni Local Government to Bonny LGA had capsized on the high sea.
Residents of the area including the survivors said 11 people died in the incident, but other source said 14 people died out of the number of people onboard.
Speaking, Festus called on the governor of the state, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and the chairman of his LGA, Dr Erastus Awortu for help following the unfortunate demise of his five children.
Festus explained that he has six children and that four of them died in the incident alongside one of his grandchildren.
He disclosed that the incident happened around LNG Jetty on the sea while they were travelling from Ngo Town to Bonny Island after the Christmas and new year celebrations.
The pastor who has been thrown into deep agony as his five children were among the eleven persons who died in the shocking boat mishap, disclosed that he had only carried the number of people on the trip because they had no fund to foot their travel back to Bonny.
He said: “I went to celebrate Christmas with my people. So on the way coming back, January 8, I loaded people who have no money to pay transport with my family, accidentally, our boat capsized in front of the LNG, where there is no rescue, so about eleven people died and out of that eleven people, five are my sons and daughters.
“We lost everything and there is no way for me even to survive. Everything in my life; phone, money. Everything; my boat and other things. No business, no way, the way to start I don’t know.
“In my presence my children died. In my presence people who survived with me were crying. I want state government and Andoni Local Government to assist me. To forgive any sin that I committed and assist me.”
Police opens investigation
The Rivers State Police command said it has opened investigation into the incidents that led to the mishap and to ascertain the number of people involved.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, said police moblised to the scene and recovered eleven corpses.
Iringe-Koko said: “On 09/01/2024 at about 0915hrs, information received that a local wooden boat powered by a single 25HP Yamaha engine carrying passengers from Ukwa Community in Ngo town in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, enroute Bonny Island, sank while approaching Amariaria community in Finima town.
“At 2000hrs, on the strength of the information, the O/C Marine SP Ogarachi Chima, moved to the scene of incident of the boat mishap and discovered eleven (11) passengers feared drowned. Investigation is in progress.”
Youths seek support for deceased families
However, youths from Andoni who reside in Bonny Local Government Area of the state have called on the Chairmen of Andoni, Awortu and his Bonny LGA counterpart, Anengi Baraua-Wilcox to support the families of the victims of the Andoni/Bonny boat mishap.
Leader of the Obolo Youth Coalition in Bonny, Comrade Gogo Gladday stated this while reacting to the news of the death said passengers in the ill-fitted boat, claiming that 14 persons have been confirmed dead while 11 were able to be rescued.
Gladday called on the two council Chairmen to enforce the use of live vests by commuters on their waterways to forestall this kind of accidents.
We’re closely monitoring situation to offer support
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Andoni LGC, Dr Erastus Awortu, says he received with rude shock and deep pain the disturbing report of the mishap, adding that 25 persons from Andoni were involved.
In a statement he personally signed, Awortu said upon receiving news of the sad development, he immediately dispatched a team to join the first responders on rescue mission at the scene of the incident in a bid to salvage the situation.
Awortu noted that the council is closely monitoring the situation to offer further support especially to give the survivors necessary medical attention and recover the remains of the dead from the Sea.
He sympathized with the families and communities of the victims especially Ngo Town, Ataba, Isiama and other communities whose loved ones were involved in the boat mishap.
The LG boss promised that he would do whatever he can as a Local Government Chairman to reduce the burden of grief of the bereaved families and communities.