At least 19 bodies have been recovered from the Ezetu 1 river in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State following a cargo boat accident on Wednesday.
The boat, which was carrying traders—primarily women—and their merchandise, had departed from the Ekeni community when its engine caught fire near the Ezetu I community around 3 p.m. The vessel was en route to Swali in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, at the time of the incident.
Local divers and personnel from the marine division of the Nigeria Police have conducted search and rescue operations, resulting in the recovery of 19 bodies. Of these, 16 corpses were taken to the morgue at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, on Friday night. The remaining three bodies are expected to be deposited at the morgue on Saturday morning.
The remains of the victims were received at the Marine Police base near the Federal Medical Centre by the state Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Faith Zibs-Godwin, along with other senior government officials.
Ipigansi Ogoniba, Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union, Bayelsa State chapter, confirmed to newsmen that 19 bodies had been recovered.
