Boat Accident in Southern Ijaw Leaves Three Children Dead

Three children have been confirmed dead following a boat mishap along the Ikeinghenbiri–Ikebiri creek in Bayelsa State.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday as a wooden passenger boat en route from Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw to Yenagoa overturned around 1 a.m. The cause of the accident has not been officially established.

Preliminary information points to possible overloading and a malfunction of the vessel’s water evacuation system. The victims, aged between 6 and 15, were reportedly asleep when the boat capsized. Their bodies have since been recovered.

The remains were taken back to Azuzuama for burial. The incident has renewed calls for improved safety enforcement across waterways in the state.