Rivers Community Seizes Oil Vessel, 2 Tugboats Over Boat Mishap

The folks of Kula neighborhood in Akuku-Toru native authorities space of Rivers State have seized an oil vessel and two tugboats linked to final Tuesday’s boat accident, which occurred at Robertkiri axis of the coastal city.

The tugboats, recognized as “Delta Runner” and “Lorra Five” had been seized as investigation into the incident continues.

The two captains of the boat had been reportedly arrested by the police.

After the restoration of the final two our bodies of the victims of the boat catastrophe, the chief of the search and rescue crew, Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, alleged that the incident was not an accident however a deliberate act orchestrated by the Ibeto Group.

Sukubo, who can also be president of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), claimed that the group’s founder had earlier threatened to cope with anybody who tried to disrupt the waterways and stop the corporate from shifting its vessel, “MV Anambra Basin” out of the Oceania neighborhood.

Ten individuals died after their boat reportedly capsized throughout a confrontation over an oil spill at OML-55 in Kula neighborhood.

The incident reportedly occurred after neighborhood members protesting alleged unpaid royalties, excellent vendor funds and environmental air pollution blocked the motion of MT Anambra Basin, operated by the Ibeto Group.

However, Max Shipping Services Limited, homeowners of the oil vessel, have since denied the involvement of its chairman, Chief Cletus Ibeto, within the incident.

Recall that Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, had vowed that his administration will unravel the circumstances that led to the demise of ten individuals in Kula neighborhood, Akuku-Toru native authorities space of the state.

Also the Rivers State Police Command has commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the individuals, who drowned after their boat capsized throughout a protest towards the retrieval of an oil vessel from the neighborhood.

Fubara spoke on Thursday at Government House, Port Harcourt, whereas addressing the folks of Kula neighborhood who staged a peaceable protest to his workplace.

The governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Sunny Ewule, sympathised with the bereaved households and appealed to the folks to stay calm and keep away from taking the legal guidelines into their very own arms.

He assured the folks of Kula that every one these allegedly concerned within the act that led to the demise of their kinsmen would face the complete wrath of the legislation.

According to the governor, demise is a severe matter, and the Rivers State Government is not going to relaxation till it will get to the underside of the matter.

“We wish to sympathize with the Kula Community and the bereaved households.

Anybody who’s concerned on this incident or discovered culpable for no matter occurred, will certainly pay for it in accordance with the legislation. We should not going to take a seat by and permit Rivers indigenes undergo any such pointless demise,” he stated.

Earlier, the chief of the Kula Community who led the delegation, High Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, stated they had been on the Government House to formally complain in regards to the unlucky incident and search the federal government’s intervention.

“It is proper we inform him ( Fubara) because we don’t want to take the laws into our hands. We have the capacity to react but we don’t want to react,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command stated it has commenced investigation into the lack of lives after a ship reportedly capsized throughout a confrontation between youths and males in army uniform at Kula neighborhood.

The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Blessing Agabe, disclosed this in a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt.

“The Rivers State Police Command is conscious of the incident in Kula Kingdom, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, which reportedly resulted within the lack of lives.

“Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the exact number of casualties and the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Agabe, an assistant superintendent of police, stated.