LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – No fewer than ten persons have reportedly lost their lives after an outboard engine boat capsized in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
This development is coming barely 72 hours after some medical students under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association(NIMSA) died in a boat accident in Calabar, Cross River State
According to report, five members of a family were among the victims of the Akwa Ibom boat mishap.
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It was gathered that they were returning from a fishing settlement, Ine Ataobong in Bakassi Peninsula, when they sailed into a fierce storm that capsized their boat, with only two survivors.
One Eno Effai, who identified herself as a relation of one of the survivours, revealed that there was no life jacket in the boat when the incident happened.
“It is really so sad. The sea has been so rough this period. Many people have died in the sea while travelling to Mbo or Oron. And this particular one is really sad in the sense that a family of five, including the mother and school children, were involved in the mishap,” the relative told journalists.
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However, a group, Mbo Concerned Citizens, had reportedly advocated for establishing a Coast Guard to assist the Government in checkmating the activities in the waterways.
The group believed that such an outfit would go a long way in helping the people involved in the boat mishap, thereby saving lives.
According to reports, the group shared its thought in a statement to journalists in Uyo, the State capital, signed by its Coordinator, Uloj Amba.
“It is becoming very necessary for the government, either federal or state to establish a Coast Guard with the mandate to checkmate the unholy activities of sea robbers.
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“Our people, especially the fishermen, have suffered immensely in the hands of these pirates. No day passes by without any incident on the waterways, which is affecting the livelihood of our people, which is fishing.
“Also, the outfit will greatly help sea travellers as it is being done in developed countries. Nothing stops us from starting it here as well, which will give opportunity to young and energetic people to be gainfully employed. So, we are appealing to the government to give this a thought.
“Many of our people have died during this period because of lack of help when they have boat mishaps,” the statement reads.