A tragic incident occurred in the waterways of Bayelsa State on Wednesday when a wooden cargo boat named ‘Godbless Dickson’ exploded and caught fire, leading to the deaths of at least 20 passengers and crew. The boat, which was carrying over 64 people and cargo, was en route to Swali market in Yenagoa from a rural settlement in the Ezetu 1 community of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
Rescue efforts by the Marine Police Unit and a team from the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Bayelsa Chapter, are still ongoing, with several passengers yet to be accounted for. The exact number of casualties is still unclear as the rescue operation continues.ASP Musa Mohammed, the Bayelsa State Police Spokesman, confirmed that more than 20 people have been killed so far in the incident.
Chairman of Southern Ijaw LGA, Target Segibo, has bemoaned the loss of lives and described the disaster as regrettable.Stakeholders, including the Maritime Workers Union and the Association of Coastal and Waterways Communities of Nigeria, have called for concerted efforts to strengthen safety regulations in the marine transport sector to prevent such tragedies in the future. The Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union, Ogoniba Ipigansi, emphasized the need for boat operators to prioritize safety measures like the use of life jackets