No fewer than 10 persons comprising two children and eight women died
Friday morning when a passenger boat capsized in Bonny River, Rivers
State.
Sources from Bonny said the boat sank about 10 minutes after it left
the shore of Bonny, while ferrying passengers to Port Harcourt, the
state capital.
An eyewitness said relatives of those who travelled in the boat broke
down in tears when the news of the mishap, which occurred around
7:30a.m, filtered into the communities on the Island.
It was also learnt that the boat, which was meant to ferry 28
persons, took about 35 passengers, suggesting that the accident could
have been caused by overloading.
An eyewitness, who gave his name as Adolf, said about 18 persons,
including four Youth Corps members were rescued by local drivers and
volunteers, adding; “As we speak, two children in the boat were brought
out lifeless. Eight other persons have also been brought out and they
are all believed to have died.
“Five corps members were also in the boat, but four of them were among the 18 persons rescued,” he said.
Travellers at Bonny jetty from which the boat set sail blamed the
boat driver for the mishap, saying he carried more than the boat’s
capacity.
