Sixty-Four Nigerians have been confirmed dead in multiple tragedies across the country over the last 72 hours, the latest being 30 people killed in a supremacy battle between militias in Benue State on Thursday.
Rescue operations at the scene of a boat mishap in Bayelsa State have led to the recovery of 18 bodies while five others drowned in a similar accident in Jigawa State.
A third sea tragedy claimed the life of a naval officer who was at the head of a team to rescue 59 people whose dredging vessel was about to go under a turbulent Okpobo river in Bonny, Rivers State.
The Benue attack occurred at Ayati village in Ukum Local Government area on Thursday.
Information, Culture and Tourism Commissioner Matthew Aboh told journalists in Makurdi yesterday that the killings stemmed from a supremacy fight between the local militias in the area.
He added that corpses of the victims were still being recovered from the bush.
The commissioner said a total of 30 bodies were recovered after the attack, adding that more bodies were still being recovered in the bushes.
He blamed the killings on the battle for supremacy between the local militias within the area.
“I was informed yesterday night through the telephone that bandits were attacking and killing people at Ayati village.
“Today I confirmed that the number of persons killed as I talk to you was 30 .They are still recovering corpses in the bushes so the number is yet to be ascertained.
“In Ayati village what I heard is that one of the bandits’ maternal village is Ayati and the other one’s maternal village is Tine-nune, Mbatyem.
“All of them are tough and fighting themselves. So anytime any one goes to the maternal village of the other and kills people the other will retaliate. So it is reprisal upon reprisal attacks,” he said.
An eyewitness Unande Iorpuu told The Nation that about 60 gunmen stormed Ayati at about 4 pm on the fateful day.
He said:”They came on motorcycles from Sai Road and immediately opened fire on residents.
“The gunmen moved from one house to another, shooting and killing. Some peoples died at the spot , while others died on their way to the hospital in Zaki Baim.
Many others were wounded.
He said the gunmen fled the scene once they accomplished their mission.
This is the second attack on Ayati village in within one month.
Eight persons were killed in the first attack last month.
Gov. Hyacinth Alia expressed sadness over the attack and wondered why such incidents
despite a strong security presence.
Alia called on security agencies to improve their surveillance and ensure that vulnerable communities were not left unguarded.
The governor condoled with the families that lost their loved ones in the unfortunate attack and prayed God to comfort them.
He assured the people that his administration would continue to explore both discreet and open measures with a view to ensuring that Sankera retraces her path of peace and lives happily again.
18 dead bodies recovered, two missing, 33 passengers rescued
Rescue workers and volunteers have recovered 18 bodies of victims of Wednesday’s boat mishap on Ezetu l community river in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The State Chairman, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Mr. Ipigansi Ogonibatold The Nation yesterday that his union in collaboration with the state government sent three boats to convey the recovered corpses to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, the state capital.
Ogoniba said the ill-fated commercial boat carried 51 passengers and an unknown number of crew members since their names were not in the manifest at their disposal.
Thirty-three passengers were rescued.
The engine of the wooden boat, popularly known as ‘Denghe market boat’, exploded in the middle of the river on Wednesday evening and sank immediately.
The boat was said to have left Ezetu 1 community around 3pm for Okubie when the onboard engine they were using caught fire and exploded.
Meanwhile, Governor Douye Diri has expressed sadness over the boat accident.
Governor Diri, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, expressed the condolences of the state government to families of victims of the mishap.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has deployed a team to probe the cause of the mishap. in Bayelsa State.
Managing Director of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji, while condoling with the families affected by the tragedy, assured the public of timely updates as the investigation progressed.
The Authority in a statement yesterday y by its AGM Corporate Affairs, Suleiman Makama, expressed solidarity with the Government of Bayelsa State and the bereaved families, offering prayers for the souls of the departed.
Five dead, 15 missing in Jigawa canoe mishap
A similar canoe mishap in Jigawa State claimed five lives, according to the Police Command in the state.
Fifteen other passengers were missing, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Lawan Shiisu said.
Mr Shiisu stated that the incident occurred at Nahuce in Taura Local Government Area (LGA) of the state on Thursday.
Navy rescues 59 drowning in turbulent waters civilians, loses officer
Swift intervention by the Nigerian Navy (NN) however saved 59 civilians from a drowning dredging vessel, MV AMBIKA 4, on a turbulent Okpobo river in Bonny, Rivers State.
However, the leader of the operation and Base Operations Officer (BOO) Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base BONNY, Lieutenant Commander Gideon Yashim Gwaza, lost his life during the operation that lasted 10 hours.
The Nation gathered that the dredging vessel which was contracted to Sterling Global Oil Limited at Okpobo field was at the risk of sinking near the river entrance when a distress call was made to the Nigerian Navy around midnight of July 29.
The base subsequently deployed a rescue team comprising 10 armed personnel in two Interceptor Boats.
It was gathered that the rescued party could not approach the distressed boat owning to turbulent wave and requested another squadron of three boats for reinforcement.
To ensure quick evaluation of all the people onboard the vessel, the navy also deployed NNS GONGOLA while drones, helicopters including one from the Nigerian Air Force were utilized for search and rescue.
While all 59 crew of the dredger were successfully rescued, the leader of the operation slipped and fell into the dangerous river.
The Director of Naval Information (DINFO), Commodore Aiwiyor Adams-Aliu, said yesterday that while all 59 crew were rescued successfully Lieutenant Commander Gideon Yashim Gwaza “paid the supreme price.”
“He fell overboard accidentally during the rescue operation which lasted for about 10 hours from midnight of 29 July 2024 to 1000 hours on 30 July 2024.
“The Nigerian Navy deeply mourns the loss of Lieutenant Commander Gideon Yashim Gwaza. who bravely risked his life to save others.
“Lieutenant Commander Gwaza was a well trained combat diver whose painful death reflects the risks and sacrifices of Nigerian Navy personnel towards the safety of Nigeria’s maritime domain. “His dedication and sacrifice will forever be remembered.”
11 dead, 4 injured as car collides with truck in Kaduna
A crash involving a truck and a Golf salon at Gwargwaje community of Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State earlyb yesterday claimed 11 lives while four others were injured, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the golf, carrying 11 people, all males, had engaged on a route violation, with no headlights and collided with an oncoming MAN truck with four people on board,” Kaduna Sector Commander, FRSC, Kabir Nadabo, said. Nadabo said the accident occurred at 05:50 a.m.
