Boat mishap claims 3 lives along Soku-Abonema waterways in Rivers State
…LG boss suspends drivers involved in mishap
persons were yesterday confirmed dead in a boat accident which occurred when two boats coming in opposite directions along the Soku-Abonema waterways, Rivers State, collided weekend. The incident happened at night.
The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Tonye Alalibo, who confirmed the accident shortly after holding a meeting with maritime operators and workers, stated that he had set up a four-man panel of inquiry to investigate the incident.
Mr. Alalibo said that the four-man panel had been instructed to liaise with security agencies operating in the state to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the incident.
He stated that the committee was mandated to find out those who lost their lives in the accident, contact of the families of the deceased, and other loses sustained in the cause of the accident.
The committee was given up until March 17, this year, to submit its report to the CTC Chairman.
The local government boss who has already banned the operation of boats at night and threatened to sanction boat drivers flouting the law as well as those who operated without adherence to laid down rules of marine transportation in the state.
“The accident occurred between two boats which claimed the lives of some passengers: one ferrying passengers from Soku to Abonnema, and the other carrying passengers from Abonnema to Soku in the night.
“Henceforth, all boat drivers operating in Akoku-Toru local government area are directed as follows: all passengers must be provided with life-vest; all drivers must ensure that all passengers on-board must put on their life-vest before embarking on the journey; no operator must convey passengers to any destination at night except in cases of emergency and the journey must be cleared with security agencies,” he said.
Members of the committee are: Hon. Iyen Briggs, Chairman; Jack Lloyd Thomas, member; Dogoye Dokubo, member; a representative of marine Police, Inspector Noel Dengi.
