Tragedy on Bennett Island River: Five Dead, One Missing in Delta State Boat Mishap
ASABA/Nigeria: A boat accident along the Bennett Island River in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State, has left five people dead and one person unaccounted for, according to the Delta State Police Command.
The tragic incident, which occurred earlier this week, also saw six individuals sustaining injuries and receiving medical treatment, while nineteen others were rescued. The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright, confirmed the developments in a statement to journalists on Sunday.
“Five bodies have been recovered from the scene of the mishap, six persons are currently hospitalised with varying degrees of injuries, nineteen individuals were successfully rescued, and one person remains missing as search efforts continue,” SP Bright said.
Authorities have not disclosed the cause of the incident, but local sources suggest that overloading or adverse river conditions could have been contributing factors. The police spokesperson assured that investigations were underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Delta State Police Command has urged riverine travellers and boat operators to prioritise safety by adhering strictly to capacity limits and equipping vessels with life jackets for all passengers. The command also extended its condolences to the families of the deceased and pledged to continue the search for the missing individual.
Incidents such as this underscore the persistent challenges of waterway safety in Nigeria’s coastal and riverine communities. The Delta State government and emergency agencies have been called upon to reinforce safety regulations and improve rescue response times to mitigate future occurrences.
Efforts are ongoing to reunite survivors with their families, while the search-and-rescue operations continue for the missing passenger.
