Not less than 20 individuals were killed in a boat accident in Andoni waterways in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers state.
This was revealed in a statement issued early Wednesday the Executive Chairman of Andoni LGA, Erastus Awortu, who expressed his shock at the incident.
The sad incident, which occurred on their way to Bonny, a nearby coastal council district on Tuesday night, is said to have involved two passenger boats.
Chairman of Andoni LGA expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and communities, lamenting that the sad tragedy occurred after successful festive events, including unification carnivals in the council region.
In addition, Awortu emphasized the need of boat operators adhering to all passenger safety procedures and recommended against nighttime sea travel.
“We received with rude shock and deep pain a disturbing report that over 20 people from Andoni are feared dead in a boat mishap involving two Andoni/Bonny-bound boats that occurred within the Andoni waterways on Tuesday January 9, 2024,” the statement stated.
“When we learned of the tragic development, we immediately dispatched our team to join the first responders on a rescue mission at the scene of the incident in an attempt to salvage the situation.
