Eleven bodies have been recovered from the Ezetu I River in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, where a boat mishap on Wednesday claimed at least 20 lives.
In a post shared on its official X handle on Friday, the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) disclosed that the late victims had been deposited in the mortuary.
The fatal accident, which occurred along the popular sea-bound route of Ezetu-Ekeni-Yenagoa, witnessed the victims burn to death “when the engine of ‘Denghe Market Boat’ exploded while on transit.”
“As of 1030 Hrs on Friday, SAR operations continue, as 11 (eleven) bodies have been recovered and deposited at FMC Mortuary by first responders from riverine communities along the route,” the agency further revealed.
NEMA added that the Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (BYSEMA), the Association of Coastal and Waterways Communities of Nigeria (ACWCN), and the Maritime Workers Union of Bayelsa State, amongst others, were also involved in the rescue operations.
