More than twenty persons are said to have died after a wooden cargo boat identified as ‘Godbless Dickson’ burst into flames in Ezetu 1 community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
The boat laden with cargo and over 64 passengers and crew members sank after it exploded in Bayelsa waterways.
Confirming the mishap, the spokesperson for the Bayelsa Police Command, ASP Musa Mohammed said 20 people have been confirmed dead while efforts to rescue other victims are currently ongoing/
He said the boat was laden with farm produce from the rural settlement and was en route to Swali market in Yenagoa when the incident occurred.
In addition, the chairman of the Southern Ijaw LGA, Target Segibo, described the loss as a disaster and regrettable.
Segibo called for improved efforts by stakeholders to strengthen safety regulations in the marine transport sector in across the state.