A follow-up to the previous report on the boat mishap that occurred in Bayelsa State reveals that the number of casualties was much higher than earlier reported. After dismantling the ill-fated boat, local divers discovered many more bodies, bringing the total number of fatalities to an unaccounted number.
The boat, which was reported to have been carrying mostly traders and a few corps members, sank on April 3, 2023, along the Yenagoa-Brass waterways near Okoroma in the Nembe Local Government Area. Initial reports had indicated that three people died in the accident, while several others were missing. However, after locals retrieved more bodies inside the boat, the number of casualties increased significantly.
According to eyewitnesses, the boat was overloaded, which made it unstable and eventually led to its sinking. The passengers, who were struggling to stay afloat, found it difficult to escape, leading to many deaths. The discovery of the additional bodies after the boat was dismantled has raised questions about the safety regulations and the enforcement of safety measures by the authorities.
Here is a video of a body being retrieved. Our sources told us the locals were asked not to post the photos of the bodies on social media and that many of the bodies are unidentified.
