The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has rescued two people after a speedboat sank along the Ibaka waterways in Mbo Local Government Area of the state.
The incident happened at about 1:30pm on Thursday when a blue W23 speedboat bearing the name “LET’S PRAY” sank while travelling from Oron to Cameroon with goods onboard.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Uyo.
John said preliminary investigations indicated that the boat driver, identified as Mr Daniel, was trying to adjust the vessel’s seacock to remove accumulated water when the incident occurred.
According to him, waves generated by another boat passing nearby destabilised the vessel, causing more water to enter before the boat eventually sank.
The driver and his conductor, identified as Mr Kani, were rescued by the Marine Police Operational and Surveillance Patrol Team, which was conducting patrols along the waterways at the time.
The state Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, commended the Marine Police officers for their quick response, saying their intervention helped avert a possible loss of life.
Azare advised boat operators and passengers to place safety first by ensuring that vessels are in good condition, avoiding overloading and providing life jackets for everyone on board.
He also urged people using the waterways to exercise caution, particularly in areas with heavy marine traffic.
The police command said it would continue to increase patrols and surveillance across the state’s waterways in partnership with other security agencies to protect lives and property.
The incident comes after a boat accident reported in August in Gorau community, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where several residents were feared dead.
A preliminary account from a resident said the boat was carrying about 40 passengers, including men, women and children, when it capsized.
Source: PUNCH
