164 Feared Dead in Niger Delta Boat Mishap

A boat carrying 166 passengers has reportedly capsized in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, 40 nautical miles from Calabar, with 164 passengers feared dead and only two survivors so far rescued.

Yushau Shuaib of the National Emergency Management Agency said nine bodies have so far been recovered and taken to the morgue of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. He added that rescue operations are continuing while officials try to determine how many passengers the boat was carrying as well as its origin and initial destination.

There are however suggestions that the boat originated from Oron and was headed for Gabon with over 166 passengers on board.