Rivers Police Probe Kula Boat Tragedy As 10 Feared Dead

The Rivers State Police Command has launched an investigation into a ship capsize in Kula, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, by which 10 persons are feared lifeless following a confrontation over an oil spill.

The incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday night when group members tried to cease a contractor from persevering with operations pending the remediation of the polluted setting and cost of compensation.

The dispute concerned a businessman whose vessel was getting used to execute a contract within the space.

According to accounts from the group, the state of affairs escalated when males in army uniform arrived in gunboats and tried to maneuver the businessman’s vessel

The youths reportedly questioned why the vessel was being relocated when the oil spill and compensation had not been addressed.

During the confrontation, one of many gunboats allegedly struck a ship carrying the youths, inflicting it to capsize.

A group chief and pioneer spokeswoman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, confirmed the incident to Punch, alleging that the arrival of the uniformed personnel worsened the state of affairs and undermined efforts to resolve the dispute peacefully.

He known as on the police and different related safety authorities to research the incident and set up the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

“The confrontation occurred amid attempts by residents to resist the alleged forceful re-entry to the site, during which a community boat capsized while trying to resist them. Ten people are feared dead.

“Now, from what I gathered, immediately after this happened (tragedy), the uniformed people ran away,” he stated.

In an replace on Wednesday morning, Sara-Igbe condemned the incident and stated the group deliberate to take the victims’ our bodies to authorities and safety workplaces in Port Harcourt.

“We are going to bring the corpses of the victims and we would be bringing them to Port Harcourt.

“We will take their corpses to Government House for the governor to know what has happened. We will also take the corpses to the police and Army headquarters in the state,” he added.

The spokesman of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division in Port Harcourt, Lt. Col. Umar, stated he was unaware of the incident however promised to make inquiries.

“We are not aware of this. But we will make inquiries,” he stated.

However, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police Blessing Agabe, confirmed the incident, saying investigations had been ongoing to find out the casualty determine and set up what occurred.

“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 stated.

As of the time of submitting this report, the police had not confirmed the variety of folks killed.