Rivers Community Seizes Oil Vessel, 2 Tugboats Over Boat Mishap

The people of Kula community in Akuku-Toru local government area of Rivers State have seized an oil vessel and two tugboats linked to last Tuesday’s boat accident, which occurred at Robertkiri axis of the coastal town.

The tugboats, identified as “Delta Runner” and “Lorra Five” were seized as investigation into the incident continues.

The two captains of the boat were reportedly arrested by the police.

After the recovery of the last two bodies of the victims of the boat disaster, the leader of the search and rescue team, Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, alleged that the incident was not an accident but a deliberate act orchestrated by the Ibeto Group.

Sukubo, who is also president of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), claimed that the group’s founder had earlier threatened to deal with anyone who tried to disrupt the waterways and prevent the company from moving its vessel, “MV Anambra Basin” out of the Oceania community.

Ten persons died after their boat reportedly capsized during a confrontation over an oil spill at OML-55 in Kula community.

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.

Recall that Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, had vowed that his administration will unravel the circumstances that led to the death of ten persons in Kula community, Akuku-Toru local government area of the state.

Also the Rivers State Police Command has commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the persons, who drowned after their boat capsized during a protest against the retrieval of an oil vessel from the community.

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 the laws into their own hands.

He assured the people of Kula that all those allegedly 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 we don’t want to react,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command said it has commenced investigation into the loss 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.