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Not fewer than three persons have been confirmed dead and several others declared missing after a boat conveying goods and passengers capsized in Bayelsa State.
On the Yenagoa-Brass waterways at Okoroma in the Nembe Local Government Area, it was reported that the boat, which typically carries about hundreds of passengers, mostly traders, capsized.
The bodies that were discovered were Mrs. Biodoumoye Romeo and Ms. Ayebatorudigiyo Amakiri, according to a source who was involved in the rescue effort; the third victim, a boat worker, remained unidentified.
It was learned that the accident happened on Thursday around 1:30. Even though search operations are still going on, the tragedy has devastated the Nembe and Brass communities.
Confirming the incident, Bayelsa State Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Ogoniba Ipigansi, said goods worth millions of naira were lost in the mishap.
According to him, also, three persons have been confirmed dead.
He said: “The boat, MV Tari, capsized and we have been battling to rescue goods and the passengers. Some of the items have been recovered. We used speed boats, barges and open boats to salvage the goods, but we couldn’t rescue all.”
Last year, a similar boat, MV Believer, sank near Okoroma.