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A tragic boat mishap in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State has claimed the lives of two siblings after a leaking canoe conveying them home from work capsized, raising fresh concerns over the safety of water transportation in riverine communities.
The victims, identified as 25-year-old Mekalachi Gogochuri and his 23-year-old sister, Rejoice Gogochuri, drowned on Saturday evening when the hand-paddled canoe overturned at Aliya (Over Bridge) in Ahoada Town. Five other passengers on board reportedly survived the incident.
Speaking to journalists, the victims' elder brother, Abraham Gogochuri, said the siblings were returning home from work when the accident occurred at about 7:45 p.m. He alleged that the canoe was already in a poor condition before the journey, noting that it had been leaking for a long time and lacked life jackets for passengers.
According to him, residents have repeatedly been forced to rely on the unsafe canoe after a monkey bridge that previously linked the community collapsed and was never reconstructed. He accused the construction company operating in the area of failing to provide safe alternative means of crossing the river despite the risks faced daily by residents.
"It was just an ordinary hand-paddled canoe. The boat had holes that were blocked with wrappers, yet people still had to use it because there was no other option. There were no life jackets, and this tragedy could have been avoided," he lamented, while calling on the relevant authorities to investigate the incident and ensure those responsible are held accountable.
The grieving brother disclosed that officers from the Ahoada Police Division had visited the family and commenced an investigation into the tragedy. He appealed to government authorities to urgently restore safe access across the river to prevent further loss of lives.
Reacting to the incident, the Eze Ekpeye Logbo III, His Imperial Majesty Kelvin Ngozi Anugwo, Akalaka XII, described the deaths as heartbreaking, noting that the victims lost their lives while striving to earn an honest living. The monarch, in a statement issued through the palace spokesperson, sympathised with the bereaved family and the people of Igbu Ehuda Kingdom, urging the community to remain united during the difficult period.
The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident. The Command's Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police Grace Iringe-Koko, said two persons died in the mishap, adding that the operator of the canoe had been taken into custody for questioning as investigations continue.
