Today would remain a day of tears, sorrow and weeping in Bonny Island, Bonny Local Government of Rivers State as two students and an elderly lady drowned when the speedboat they were traveling in capsized at sea in the middle of a storm.

Hope Isaac Fubara Pepple, Queen Ibinwangi Ibisa Hart, a student of Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic, and junior sister of popular Nigerian blogger and Internet marketer, Inengisa Hart, both from Bonny Island, and a yet-to-be identified elderly lady were traveling en route Bodo in Gokana Local Government Area when their boat was caught up in a storm.

There is tension across the island at the moment as families of the deceased students were angry that the boat pilot allegedly drove out into the sea while a heavy storm had enveloped the community. Eyewitnesses say the storm deroofed some houses, blowing different objects from one direction to the other.

Kristina Reports could not confirm from the Bonny Marine Transport Association (BMTA) on the veracity of this allegation against the pilot.  

To view the video of the incident click on this link: https://www.facebook.com/okoloama.ikpangi/videos/148040616159411/

A socio-cultural pressure group in Bonny LGA, Okoloma Ikpangi has condemned the incident warning that if the factors that led to it were not addressed more could occur in the nearest future.

In a statement on its Facebook page, Okoloma Ikpangi said: “It is sad that we lost young and old souls today. It is not anybody’s fault but there are things which can be done to save lives because life is precious and cannot be bought.’

“A system of journey management plan have to be imposed on the Bonny boat union to have safety rules which is to guide them in every journey, which is to ensure the safety of travelers on our water ways. These rules will dictate a specific route they are to follow; radio communication from base in specified time to identify how far the travelers have gone in the journey and in case of an emergency can be easily located by a standby rescue and medical team.”

“If they operate with a journey management plan system, delay of journey due to bad weather conditions would have been complied with if it was a set regulation.”

“Also, boat engines are to be inspected before given permit for a journey.”

“Furthermore, a tutor is to be present before every departure to demonstrate the proper use of a life vest for travellers to be conversant with it. It is important that we have a well-trained and equipped rescue team because saving lives is better than taking one.”

“Let’s stop beating around the bush and do what is right for Bonny Kingdom”.

OKOLOAMA IKPANGI