By Deborah Nnamdi
The Delta State Police command has confirmed a boat mishap on the river in Warri South Local Government Area of the state.
Five passengers who drowned in the accident reportedly lost their lives, while 20 others remain missing after the accident.
The state Police spokesperson Bright Edafe added that six were found and hospitalized.
The accident which involved boats ferrying passengers who were returning from a burial ceremony, it was learned, occurred on Monday evening.
Eyewitnesses attributed the fatal crash to poor visibility, adding that most of the passengers were not wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.
A resident, Emmanuel Okoro, who witnessed the incident, described the scene as chaotic.
“People were screaming for help. Some managed to swim to safety, but many others disappeared beneath the water,” he recounted.
Meanwhile, rescue efforts were ongoing as emergency responders and local volunteers continued to search for the missing victims.
