Edo Boat Mishap: Egbema Focus Group Mourns, Accuses Jubri Oil Company, ...... Demands thorough investigation,
By EgbemaVoice,
Egbema Focus Group has expressed grief over the death of three people and five missing in Edo state boat mishaps in Gelegele community waterside Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo state,
The mishaps occurred on the Thursday 19th October in Gelegele community waterside, Olodiama kingdom, Edo state, a passengers Boat loaded from Gbeoba community, Egbema kingdom, Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo state to Ekenwan Market in Ovia North East Local Government Area as Ekenwan market day. Reaching Gelegele waterside at Gelegele Community, the driver of the Boat pleaded with the passenger that he wanted to buy fuel at Gelegele Waterside and had to turn off the engine of the boat, after procuring the fuel, the engine of the boat failed to start and the driver did all he could to start the boat engine, all to no avail, in the process, there was a terrible wave in the river and suddenly the wave and current swept their boat from the Jetty and smashed it against a stationary crude oil barge belonging to Jubril Oil Company, that double park at river and the boat submerged with all the passengers onboard, including 3 months and 1-year-old babies and their mothers.
“While expressing solidarity with the Gbeoba community and people of Egbema kingdom and Edo State, commend the marine police in Gelegele as they swiftly mobilised emergency response and volunteers to provide immediate assistance to those affected by the incidents, the group publicity secretary Comrade Tamara-Ebi Idaji on behalf of the group wishes a most speedy recovery to those who were injured, the statement partly reads;
The Egbema Focus group demand justice for the Mishap boat, accused Jubri Oil Company, demanding a thorough investigation of Gelegele boat capsized accidents that claimed eight lives,
The group calling on the Edo state Government, including law enforcement, maritime safety and transportation safety authorities to collaborate closely in identifying the root causes of these unfortunate and preventable disasters.
The group underscores the Jubri oil company and holding the company accountable for the accident, and Government agencies accountable for not regulatory or safety lapses and further instructs a comprehensive review of safety measures and a strict enforcement of existing laws on boating activities in the Edo state riverine Communities,
Added that, Edo state Riverine Communities are suffering like third class citizens in the world, suffering becoming order of the day, lack of accessable road in Ovia south west local Government Area led the passengers to take this dangerous means and lost their lives, we call on Edo state Government critical investigate the caused of the accident, He stated,
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