As the furore generated by the shooting of unarmed civilians traveling in a local cargo boat, popularly known as ‘Cotonou Boat’, along the Bonny River by a combat helicopter belonging the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) continues to gather momentum, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the shooting and demanded an immediate probe into the incident.

The PDP, in a statement titled “PDP Condemns, Demands Investigation Into Rivers Boat Shooting” signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, called for “an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the terrifying incident which has reportedly heightened apprehensions in the Niger Delta region”.

The incident, which almost resulted in the loss of five Nigerian lives, happened on Thursday, August 26, 2021 by Dawes Island (Dutch Island) fishing settlement in Okrika Local Government Area about five nautical miles to the Federal Ocean Terminal, Onne in Eleme LGA, involved a local wooden cargo boat conveying foodstuffs and other goods from Port Harcourt to Bonny Island.

The Defence Headquarters issued a statement midnight on Sunday, August 29, 2021, almost 96 hours after the incident, admitting that the air component of its Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) actually carried out the shooting, though clarifying that it was on the suspicion that the boat was conveying illegally refined petroleum products.

According to the statement, which was signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major Gen. Benjamin Sawyerr, the crew of the ‘Cotonou Boat’ that was being escorted by two speedboats fired shots at a helicopter deployed to provide air support to ground troops engaged in clearance operation in the Cawthorne Channel.

“The Air Component of the Joint Task Force Operation DELTA SAFE (OPDS) received reports from ground troops who were on clearance operations but encountered resistance at the point of encounter.”

“On receiving the report a combat helicopter was despatched to provide close air support mission along the Cawthorne Channel.”

“The helicopter encountered an illegal oil bunkerers’ boat popularly called “Cotonou Boat”. The boat which was being escorted by 2 speedboats was suspected to be carrying illegally refined oil products in large drums along the Channel in the direction of OPDS patrol boats.”

“On sighting the boat, warning shots were fired to dissuade the crew from hostile action. The crew fired back at the helicopter and the boat was engaged accordingly.”

“The 2 speedboats detached from the convoy at high speed leaving the “Cotonou Boat” which was neutralised. The helicopter later went after the 2 speedboats but was unable to track it.  The suspects are still at large and a manhunt has been sent out to apprehend them.”

Reacting to the development, the PDP expressed shock at the incident, stressing that it was alarmed by reports of a military helicopter circling, targeting and shooting civilians in what it described as “a bloody assault”, but, however, called for calm as the authorities unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expresses shock and totally condemns the reported shooting of a civilian market boat ferrying foodstuff and other household goods, allegedly by a military helicopter in Dutch Island area of Rivers state.”

“The PDP is alarmed by reports of how the said military helicopter allegedly circled, targeted and shot at civilians, who were ferrying foodstuff and household items from Nembe-Bille jetty, in a bloody assault, in which the traders sustained gunshot wounds.”

“Our party calls for an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the terrifying incident which has reportedly heightened apprehensions in the Niger Delta region.”

“The PDP also calls for calm as the authorities unravel the circumstances surrounding the ugly incident.”

Also reacting to the incident, the President of the Bonny Improvement Association (BIA), Port Harcourt Chapter, Professor Sodienye Abere punctured the narrative of the Defence Headquarters, querying that “what has Cawthorne Channel got to do with Dawes Island? Both geographical locations are far apart and unrelated”.

He called on the military authorities to admit their fault and apologize for the incident and compensate the victims and the owner of the said boat, warning that such misdemeanors by security agencies and their personnel if left unchecked will aggravate an already fluid security situation in the Niger Delta region.  

Checks by Kristina Reports indicate that the incident area, Dawes Island is more than 20 nautical miles away from the Cawthorne Channel referred to by the Defence Headquarters in its statement.

Another discrepancy is that the said boat that the Defence Headquarters claims was being used to ferry illegally refined petroleum products has been known over the years as a means of conveying goods including foodstuffs between Port Harcourt and Bonny Island.

Furthermore, Kristina Reports checks reveal that the claim by the Defence Headquarters that its combat helicopter ‘neutralized’ the incidented boat was not founded on facts as the boat arrived Coal Beach, Bonny at about 10pm on the night of Thursday, August 26, 2021, and was detained by the security personnel there until the next morning.

Checks on the boat reveal bullet holes and blood stains on the items conveyed in the boat such as bags of garri, rice, beans and cement, crates of eggs, three coffins, cartons of drinks, and plastic plumbing pipes, amongst others.

It was yet unclear whether the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari would wade in and order the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor to conduct a thorough and unbiased investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The incident is a litmus test for the Nigerian Federal Government and ordering a dispassionate probe into unraveling the circumstances around it would assure its avowed commitment to global best practices in maritime security management and compliance to its constitutional mandate of protecting the lives and properties of citizens.