Ten Feared Dead in Boat Capsizing Incident in Rivers State

In a tragic incident in Kula community, Rivers State, ten people are feared dead after a boat capsized during a confrontation involving gunboats. This incident reportedly took place while attempts were made to retrieve a crude oil storage vessel.

Anabs Sara-Igbe, a chief in Kula and a member of the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum, claimed that the confrontation occurred when the community tried to prevent the vessel, Anambra Basin FSO, from leaving. The community had been demanding compensation for oil spills linked to the vessel’s operations.

Sara-Igbe stated that he was working towards a peaceful resolution when he learned that six gunboats were sent to forcibly retrieve the vessel. He alleged that one of the community’s boats was struck by a stern boat, leading to the capsizing and the feared drowning of ten individuals, including two local security personnel.

According to Sara-Igbe, the gunboats left the scene without making any attempts to rescue those who fell into the water. He later contacted military officials to confirm whether the operation had been authorized, but the commander stated he was unaware of the deployment.

Max Shipping Services Limited, which owns the vessel, denied any wrongdoing and clarified its contractual relationship with Menal Technical Services Limited, the company that had hired the vessel. They stated that their vessel had been inspected and was free of crude oil before the incident.

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that it is investigating the incident to determine the exact number of casualties and the circumstances surrounding it. As of now, no bodies have been recovered.