Professional divers have recovered all the bodies of the 10 people who drowned when their speed boat capsized at Kula community in Akuku-Toru local government area of Rivers State.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the divers recovered two more bodies on Saturday evening which were those of David Opoyi, secretary of Kula Community Development Committee and David Sukubo, younger brother to the President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo.
No fewer than 10 persons drowned after their boat reportedly capsized on Tuesday October 20, during a confrontation over an oil spill at OML-55 in Kula community, Akuku-Toru local government area of Rivers State.
The incident reportedly occurred after community members protesting alleged unpaid royalties, outstanding vendor payments and environmental pollution blocked the movement of MT Anambra Basin, operated by the Ibeto Group.
However, Max Shipping Services Limited, owners of the oil vessel, have since denied the involvement of its chairman, Chief Cletus Ibeto, in the incident.
A member of the search operation, who pleaded for anonymity told our Correspondent that the recovery was difficult and required the deployment of professional divers.
He said the bodies were already decomposing. He added that the corpses were taken to Abonnema, headquarters of Akuku-Toru local government area, for documentation.
The source stated that the bodies have been transferred and deposited in a mortuary in Port Harcourt, where the remains of other recovered victims were being kept.
According to him, no ceremonies were held and no relatives were present during the recovery due to the decomposing condition of the bodies.
Eight people were rescued after the boat capsized while10 people drowned during the Incident.
Recall that Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, vowed that his administration will unravel the circumstances that led to the death of the 10 persons.
Also the Rivers State Police Command has commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Fubara spoke on Thursday at Government House, Port Harcourt, while addressing the people of Kula community who staged a peaceful protest to his office.
The governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Sunny Ewule, sympathised with the bereaved families and appealed to the people to remain calm and avoid taking laws into their own hands.
He assured the people of Kula that all those involved in the act that led to the death of their kinsmen would face the full wrath of the law.
According to the governor, death is a serious matter, and the Rivers State Government will not rest until it gets to the bottom of the matter.
“We want to sympathize with the Kula Community and the bereaved families.
Anybody who is involved in this incident or found culpable for whatever happened, will definitely pay for it according to the law. We are not going to sit by and allow Rivers indigenes go through this type of unnecessary death,” he said.
Earlier, the leader of the Kula Community who led the delegation, High Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, said they were at the Government House to formally complain about the unfortunate incident and seek the government’s intervention.
“It is proper we inform him ( Fubara) because we don’t want to take the laws into our hands. We have the capacity to react but in we don’t want to react,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command said it has commenced investigation into the lost of lives after a boat reportedly capsized during a confrontation between youths and men in military uniform at Kula community.
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Blessing Agabe, disclosed this in a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt.
“The Rivers State Police Command is aware of the incident in Kula Kingdom, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, which reportedly resulted in the loss of lives.
“Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the exact number of casualties and the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Agabe, an assistant superintendent of police, said.
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
