Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has expressed deepest grief over the unfortunate boat mishap that happened around the area between the Anchorage close to the Shell Administrative building in the Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal (BOGT) and the NLNG gas loading jetty along the Bonny River in Rivers State.

The unfortunate incident, which occurred on Monday, January 8, 2024, leading to the loss of 11 lives among whom were five children.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Boniface Onyedi, on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, the State Governor condoled and sympathized with the affected families of the dead and indeed all the victims of the boat mishap.

He assured that his administration will continue to work to ensure that traveling on the sea routes around Rivers State becomes safer for travelers and riverine community dwellers.

“I commiserate and condole with families of the victims of the boat accident that led to the loss of lives, and near death experienced by our brothers and sisters that were involved in the boat mishap.

“It is indeed a very unfortunate and sad incident and we pray that, God shall give all of them the strength to bear the loss and speedy recovery to those who survived.

“As a government, we will continue to work to ensure that such threats against safe traveling on our sea routes are tackled. “

A fishing boat conveying travelers from Ngo in Andoni LGA to Amariari Fishing Settlement and other nearby settlements in Finima Community in Bonny LGA had capsized around the area between the Shell Anchorage and NLNG gas loading jetty on Monday night.

The incident claimed 11 casualties included five children and six adults. So far, rescue efforts by local fishermen has yielded nine bodies while efforts were ongoing to recover the remaining two.