About 10 people are feared dead after a boat carrying youths capsized during a confrontation involving uniformed security personnel in Kula community, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, over an oil spill dispute.
The incident reportedly occurred when the personnel arrived in several gunboats and allegedly attempted to move a vessel and its contents to a businessman, angering residents who had been demanding action over oil pollution, environmental damage and compensation.
The confrontation escalated when one of the gunboats reportedly struck the youths’ boat, causing it to capsize.
Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, a community leader and pioneer spokeswoman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, confirmed the incident and called for an investigation into the tragedy.
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Sara-Igbe alleged that the presence of the uniformed personnel worsened the situation, saying the confrontation occurred amid resistance to an alleged forceful re-entry into the site.
He said the 10 people feared dead were all male, while efforts to recover the bodies and identify the victims were reportedly ongoing.
The spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, ASP Blessing Agabe, promised to verify the incident.
However, the circumstances surrounding the boat’s capsizing and the alleged involvement of the security personnel had not been independently established as of Tuesday evening.
