TWO SURVIVE SPEEDBOAT ACCIDENT ON AKWA IBOM WATERWAY

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has rescued two people after a speedboat sank along the Ibaka waterways in Mbo Local Government Area of the state. The incident occurred at about 1:30 p.m. on Thursday when a blue W23 speedboat marked “LET’S PRAY” sank while travelling from Oron to Cameroon with goods onboard. The two occupants, the driver and his conductor, were rescued by a Marine Police Operational and Surveillance Patrol Team.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, preliminary investigations showed that the driver, identified as Daniel, was attempting to adjust the vessel’s seacock to drain accumulated water when the situation became dangerous. John said waves generated by another boat passing through the area reportedly destabilised the vessel, causing it to take in more water before eventually sinking.

The Marine Police team was on patrol when the incident occurred and quickly moved in to rescue the occupants. The conductor was identified as Kani. No loss of life was reported in the incident, with the police attributing the successful rescue to the prompt intervention of the marine patrol personnel operating along the waterways.

The state Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, commended the Marine Police Operational and Surveillance Patrol Team for their swift response. He urged boat operators and passengers to take safety precautions seriously by ensuring that vessels are seaworthy, avoiding overloading and making sure that everyone onboard has access to a life jacket.

Azare also advised maritime users to exercise greater caution when navigating waterways with heavy marine traffic. The police command said it would continue to strengthen patrols and surveillance across the state's waterways in collaboration with other security agencies to protect lives and property. The incident comes weeks after a separate boat accident in Gorau community, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where a boat reportedly carrying about 40 passengers capsized and several residents were feared dead.