Posted by The Port Harcourt Telegraph on
It was a dark Saturday night for the families of the unfortunate four who reportedly met their untimely death in a mishap in Okrika Local Government Area leaving several others injured.
It was a dark Saturday night for the families of the unfortunate four who reportedly met their untimely death in a mishap in Okrika Local Government Area leaving several others injured.
One of the victims narrated how the boat in which they were traveling from Port Harcourt to Okrika ran into a smaller 13-seater boat coming from Okrika to Port Harcourt at Kalio-ama axis.
Following the coalition, the 13-seater boat broke into two and all the passengers were thrown into the water.
Rescue operators that got to the scene were able to rescue only nine passengers, while four others were not seen.
Reacting on the incident, the chairman of the council, Prince Ibibia Walter said the occurrence is as a result of the non-challant attitude of boat operator.
Prince Walter called on the boat drivers to always obey safety rules and regulations at all times.
He lamented that if such regulations were followed strictly incessant boat mishaps could be avoided.
Prince Walter assured the injured victims of his administration's resolve to assist them in their treatment and commiserate with the families of the deceased.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Okrika local government council, Prince Ibibia Walter has directed that all speedboats in the area should from henceforth ply from 6.30am in the morning and close by 6.00pm in the evening till further notice.
Similarly, Prince Walter had directed all speedboat operators to provide safety life jackets for passengers before embarking on any journey.
In a statement signed on behalf of the council boss by his Chief Press Secretary, Oforiokure Kwani, noted that the reason is to avoid similar occurrence.
He warned that failure to abide by these rules would face the wrath of the law.
Also in his reaction, the Amanyanabo of Koni-ama in Okrika Local Government Area, Capt. Nemi Iyalla Oputibeya had described Saturday night's boat mishap as a great loss to the Okrika people.
Capt. Oputibeya who was speaking to newsmen in his palace at Okrika said that Okrika people had always prayed never to witness such occurrence.
He blamed the unfortunate incident on the recklessness and non-compliance with safety regulations by the boat operators.
The royal father called on the local government authorities to prevail on the boat operators to respect and honour human lives by obeying safety rules and regulations and prayed God to give the bereaved families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.In the same vein, the Biriyanabo of Anyungubiri and chief of Ofokome war Canoe House of Koni-ama, Okrika, Omualabo Dere Biemgbo Ofokome said, the recent boat mishap in the area is a big blow on the Okrika people.
He appealed to the boat operators not to take the laws into their hands.