Family members of the two siblings who perished in the boat mishap in the Ahoada East Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State have blamed the state of the boat as well as the lack of safety precautions for their deaths while returning home from work.
The two deceased, whose names have been reported as Mekalachi Gogochuri, aged 25, and his younger sister named Rejoice Gogochuri, aged 23, were said to have drowned on Saturday, when the boat conveying them alongside five other passengers capsized at Aliya (Over Bridge), Ahoada Town, at around 7:45 p.m.
According to the deceased’s elder brother, Abraham Gogochuri, who spoke with journalists, the vessel was not safe for use and lacked safety precautionary devices, says Revelation Agent.
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‘Although there were about seven people in the boat, only the two of them drowned. The boat was not in good condition, and there were no life jackets. That was what led to their death.”
According to Abraham, the deceased had boarded a boat to return home from work, and the reason they were on the boat was due to the nature of the journey, which entailed crossing a river. It was alleged by the elder brother that the boat was leaking, and this was the case even before their voyage.
He further criticized the construction firm working in the area at the time, claiming that the firm failed to offer safe transport to the residents despite the state of the crossing.
The brother of the deceased complained that a bridge built earlier had collapsed and was never reconstructed, thus forcing the residents to use hazardous means of crossing the river.
“There was a monkey bridge constructed before now, but it collapsed, and up till today, nothing has been done to reconstruct it. That is what has forced people to use these boats.”
The appropriate authorities were asked to conduct an investigation into the matter and hold those responsible accountable because the bereaved family sought justice for the deceased siblings.
However, Eze Ekpeye Logbo III, His Imperial Majesty Kelvin Ngozi Anugwo, Akalaka XII, Supreme Monarch of the Ekpeye Ethnic Nation, has expressed his condolences in connection with the sad event.
According to a statement made on Monday, June 29, 2026, through the palace spokesman, the king expressed grief over the deaths and conveyed his sympathy to the affected family and the people of Igbu Ehuda Kingdom, calling upon them to stay united at such a trying time.
At the time of writing this report, there was no statement from the Rivers State Police Command.
