20 die as boat explodes in Nigeria’s waterways

A wooden cargo boat, identified as ‘Godbless Dickson’, laden with cargo and over 64 passengers and crew, exploded and was engulfed with flames, leaving 20 dead in the waterways in Bayelsa State, south Nigeria, Report informs via Premium Times Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt on Thursday that the tragic incident occurred on Wednesday along the Ezetu 1 community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

Musa Mohammed, the police spokesperson in Bayelsa told NAN correspondent that 20 people have been so far confirmed dead, while rescue efforts by the Marine Police unit were still ongoing.

The ill-fated cargo boat, laden with farm produce from the rural settlement, was en route to Swali market in Yenagoa.