Boat Mishap Claims 8 in Cross River, 5 Rescued

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar

Eight passengers have reportedly drowned in a boat mishap along the Ikang-Cameroon axis of the waterways in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State, while five others were rescued alive.

The Cross River State Police Command confirmed the incident, which involved two W23 speed boats operating along the waterways.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Sunday Eitokpah, the accident occurred when a boat conveying 13 Nigerian passengers from Ikang to the Republic of Cameroon collided with another W23 speed boat fitted with a double Yamaha engine.

Eitokpah said the boat was sailing through Cameroonian territorial waters around Tikoro when it collided with the other vessel, resulting in the passengers being thrown into the water.

“Eight passengers on board drowned in the collision, while five others were rescued with the assistance of local fishermen in Cameroon,” the PPRO said.

He explained that the victims were on a routine trip from Ikang to Cameroon when the tragedy occurred.

The police spokesman added that the bodies of the passengers feared drowned had been recovered and brought to Simon Beach, Ikang, in Bakassi Local Government Area.

The Command said it had directed the Marine Police in Ikang to ensure that the recovered bodies were properly identified by their respective families.

It further directed that the identified remains be deposited at the morgue pending further arrangements by the families.

The Command said it was continuing to liaise with relevant authorities and the affected families to establish further details surrounding the incident.

The police assured that appropriate measures would be taken to support the affected families and clarify the circumstances that led to the fatal boat collision.