(Rivers Boat Crash. Photo by Punch News)
Two siblings, Mekalachi Gogochuri, 25, and his younger sister, Rejoice Gogochuri, 23, have d£ath after a boat conveying them and five other passengers capsized in Ahoada Town, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
An online news platform learnt that the incident occurred around 7:45 p.m. on Saturday while the victims were returning home from work.
Speaking with journalists on Sunday, the victims’ elder brother, Abraham Gogochuri, explained that the siblings had boarded a canoe to cross a river to their residence at Aliya (Over Bridge), where a construction company is currently carrying out roadworks.
He said they were coming back from work when they boarded the boat to cross the river to their house, noting that although a construction company is working in the area, the boat unfortunately capsized and his brother and sister drowned.
According to him, seven passengers were onboard the canoe, but only the two siblings lost their lives.
He blamed the tragedy on the boat’s poor condition and the absence of life jackets, stating that out of about seven people in the boat, only the two of them drowned because the boat was not in good condition and there were no life jackets available.
He described the vessel as a leaking hand-paddled canoe, alleging that it had been patched with wrappers to reduce water seepage.
He further alleged that they were blaming the construction company because it failed to provide safe boats and life jackets for residents who depend on the waterway, adding that the canoe had been leaking for a long time, yet people had no other option but to use it.
Abraham also lamented that a makeshift crossing popularly known as the “monkey bridge” had collapsed and had yet to be reconstructed, leaving residents with no alternative but to travel by unsafe boats.
He said the monkey bridge that used to be there had collapsed and had not been rebuilt, which was why people now depended on the boats, and he called on the authorities to investigate why there was no safer alternative for residents, stressing that the family wanted justice for his late brother and sister.
He disclosed that officers from the Ahoada Police Division visited the family on Sunday as part of ongoing investigations into the incident.
Meanwhile, the paramount ruler of the Ekpeye Ethnic Nation, His Imperial Majesty Kelvin Ngozi, Eze Ekpeye Logbo III (Akalaka XII), expressed sadness over the tragedy.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Anamoji Felix, the monarch described the d£aths of the two siblings as a painful loss to the Igbu Ehuda Kingdom and the entire Ekpeye nation.
He extended his condolences to the bereaved family, the traditional ruler of Igbu Ehuda Kingdom, Eze Noble Friday Uwoh, and members of the community, praying for God to grant them the strength to bear the loss.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she would verify the incident.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer for the command, ASP Blessing Agabe, later confirmed the incident, stating that the boat operator had been arrested.
She confirmed that two persons died, noting that the boat driver had been taken into custody and that an investigation is ongoing.