Sad: Corps Member, Civil Defence Operative, Drown In Bayelsa Boat Mishap

SAN FRANCISCO, November 11, (THEWILL) – An operative of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member have drowned in in a boat accident, which occurred in Okpotuwari community in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa.

THEWILL gathered that the patrol boat conveying the team of NSCDC reportedly collided with another boat when it was pursuing suspected oil pipeline vandals while the corps member, who was said to be serving at Okpotuwari community, in Southern Ijaw, also died in a separate boat accident.

NAN quoted Tontiemote Yeiyei, a resident of the community, who revealed that the late corps member, who hailed from Anambra State, had gone to a neighbouring community with two of his friends.

Yeiyei said the canoe he boarded encountered rough currents at the jetty, and that sympathisers quickly raised a search party which rescued two people alive.

“The rescue team searched for the remains of the drowned corps member to no avail, and local divers later joined them but they are yet to find the body. Hopefully it will be afloat by Saturday ,” Yeiyei said.

“The survivors have been stabilised and are being taken care of at a clinic.”

But, another community source, who spoke in confidence alleged that the driver of the boat conveying the corps members lost control of the boat on getting close to the jetty due to high sea tides.

He said that the high current caused the boat to capsize.

He noted that while the deceased corps member was unlucky to have drowned before help could come his way, his colleagues were rescued by community folks.

The state coordinator of the NYSC, Anthony Ekeocha, said the incident was reported to him by the Southern Ijaw Zonal Inspector but added that he was yet to get full details of the incident.

Story by Oputah David