Two rescued as speedboat sinks on Akwa Ibom waterway

Two people have been rescued after a speedboat travelling from Oron in Akwa Ibom State to Cameroon sank along the Ibaka waterway in Mbo Local Government Area.

The incident happened at about 1:30 p.m. on Thursday when the blue W23 speedboat, identified by the name “LET’S PRAY”, went down while carrying goods.

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said the vessel’s driver, identified as Daniel, was attempting to adjust the boat’s seacock to drain water that had accumulated inside when the situation deteriorated.

According to the command, waves created by another passing boat destabilised the vessel and caused more water to enter before it eventually sank.

Daniel and his conductor, identified as Kani, were rescued by personnel of the Marine Police Operational and Surveillance Patrol Team, who were conducting patrols in the area at the time.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state,  Timfon John, disclosed the incident in a statement issued in Uyo on Friday.

The Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, praised the Marine Police team for responding quickly to the emergency, saying their intervention helped avert a loss of life.

Azare urged boat operators and passengers to take safety precautions seriously, including ensuring that vessels are seaworthy, avoiding overloading and making sure that everyone on board has a life jacket.

He further advised those using the waterways to exercise extra caution in areas with heavy marine traffic.

The command said it would continue to intensify patrols and surveillance across the state’s waterways while working with other security agencies to safeguard lives and property.