The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor has been identified as one of the survivors of the boat accident that claimed five lives in Delta State.
A statement by Guwor’s Chief Press Secretary on Wednesday, Nkem Nwaeke said the speaker is yet to recover from the shock.
The statement added that the speaker was returning to Asaba, en route Warri after engagement with constituents on the faithful Friday afternoon.
Five persons were said to have lost their lives, six were injured and twenty persons still missing after the devastating boat accident in the Warri South Local Government Area of the state.
“Mr speaker is deeply saddened by the tragic boat mishap that occurred over the weekend along Bennett Island River in Warri South-west local government area of Delta State, in which he was involved but miraculously survived.
“Unfortunately, five precious lives were lost in the incident.
“Mr Speaker was returning to Asaba, enroute Warri after engagement with constituents on the faithful Friday afternoon, November 22, 2024, when the boat he was being ferried almost had a head-on collision with another, resulting to the death of five persons and several others injured.
“His heart goes out to the families of the deceased, and he prays that God grants them the strength to bear these irreparable losses.
“Mr. Speaker is still in shock over the incident and can only imagine the pain and grief that the families of the victims must be going through.
“He thanks God for sparing his life and that of others who survived the mishap. He also appreciates the prompt response of the rescue team and the medical personnel who attended to them.
“Mr Speaker has asked that relevant authorities should conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident, with a view to preventing such tragedies in the future.
“Once again, Mr Speaker commiserates with the families of the victims and pray for the repose of their souls,” the statement read.
However, contrary to claims that over 30 passengers onboard the boat lost their lives during the incident, State Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe who confirmed the incident in a terse statement on Tuesday, said that five persons died.
The police spokesman didn’t give details of the incident, but he merely confirmed that six were injured and still receiving treatment while nineteen have so far been rescued but one still missing.
“BOAT MISHAP IN ALONG BENNETT ISLAND RIVER IN WARRI SOUTH
Five found dead, six persons injured and still receiving treatment, nineteen persons rescued, one still missing”, Edafe said.
