Many persons are feared dead after fire burnt and sank a boat, code named,

Godbless Dickson, between Ekeni and Ukubie communities in Southern Ijaw

Local Government Area of Bayelsa State at about 5.30am on Wednesday.

Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Bayelsa State Chapter,

Ipigansi Ogoniba, who disclosed this on Thursday said, the boat was carrying

about 64 persons at the time of the incident, but several persons swam to

safety and it would be difficult to state the exact number of those who died

or survived until much later when he receives reports from boats and local

divers engaged in ongoing rescue efforts.

The Yenagoa bound boat usually carried traders who ply their wares from

one riverine market to the other and returned to Yenagoa in time for

Monday and Thursday, the market days of the Swali Ultra-Modern Market

and it is not immediately clear what caused the incident, but it is believed

that it started from improper handling of petrol close to the onboard engine.

In her reaction, Chairperson of Association of Coastal and Waterways

Communities of Nigeria, Bayelsa State, Odede Denikpete Tina, blamed the

incident on the refusal of boat operators in the state to observe safety

regulations such as putting on of life jackets and called on the state

government to make more effort in connecting more riverine communities

by road to minimize the need for water transport.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Musa

Mohammed, said the local boat was travelling from Ekeni to Yenagoa when

the incident took place claiming about 20 lives and rescue efforts were

ongoing at the scene of the incident.