Passengers swim to safety as boat capsizes in Bayelsa

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

A boat mishap involving a cargo and passenger boat MV Tari happened along the Yenagoa-Nembe-Brasss waterways.

It was learnt that the ill-fated boat capsized near Okoroma in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State; passengers on board swam to safety whilst the cargo remained submerged.

Mr Tari Dikuma, Assistant Secretary of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Okpoama Unit, told our correspondent that the incident happened on Thursday afternoon.

Dikuma, who was part of the rescue team at the scene, said no life was lost but goods worth millions of naira were lost though that some items were salvaged.

“So far we have not recorded any casualty but we have salvaged a lot of items with speed boats, badges and open boats,” he.

Mr Asinim Butswat, Police Spokesman in Bayelsa State, said the incident had yet to be reported to the nearby Police Division, hence could not provide details.