A fishing boat has capsized close to the gas loading jetty of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) along the Bonny River with 11 passengers dead, among whom are five children and six adults.

Kristina Reports learnt that the dead children are aged between six months and seven years.

The incidented boat was conveying travelers who were returning from the Yuletide celebrations at home in Ngo Town in Andoni LGA of Rivers State when it was hit by ferocious waves splitting it into two and sending its occupants into the sea.

The owner of the boat, Promise Ayayi, a native of Ngo Town, told Kristina Reports at his residence at Agiokolo 2 Community in Bonny LGA that he and his wife alongside 12 others were rescued by local fishermen from nearby fishing settlements.

The distraught man denied that his boat had a head-on collision with another boat, explaining it was just his boat that was assailed by the aggressive waves resulting in the sinking of the boat.

He lamented that aside losing four of his children and one grandchild, he also lost his fishing boat, which he said was his only means of livelihood, regretting that he alongside over ten of his workers are now stranded with no means of survival.

He appealed to the Chairmen of Bonny and Andoni LGAs as well as other well-meaning individuals to come to his aid and that of his family.

On his part, the Caretaker Chairman of Agiokolo 2 Community Development Committee (CDC) in Finima Community, Bonny LGA, Chief Ifuk Awaji-Ija said he was shocked at the news of the incident, regretting that members of his community were involved in such tragedy.

He called on the Chairmen of Bonny and Andoni LGAs to come to the aid of the victims, stressing that they have lost loved ones and their livelihoods, adding that any intervention they can get now would be of much help to the families affected.

Rescue efforts were still ongoing as at the time of this report.