By John Ugo, Awka
Tension has mounted in Ogbaru local government area and adjoining riverine communities of Anambra State as over 30 persons are feared missing when a passenger boat in which they were travelling capsized.
The boat was said to be carrying about 85 passengers when the incident happened on Friday.
Findings revealed that the casualty figure may have risen as divers battlers battled to recover more of the victims 24 hours after the occurence at Umunnankwo community in the local government area.
Eye witnesses said the ill-fated boat with about 85 persons on board, took off from Onukwu Bridge and was heading to Nkwo market, Ogbakuba before it capsized.
Mr. Pascal Aniegbuna, the Transition Committee Chairman, Ogbaru Local Government Area, who confirmed the incident said “while some of the passenges were rescued, several others, unfortunately lost their lives.”
There was conflicting reports however as a source close to the area stated that only nine persons were rescued while the rest are still missing.
According to a staff of the State Emerge cy Managenent Agency (SEMA) who did not want his name mentioned said , “An engine boat that loaded about 85 passengers at Onukwu bridge Ossomala enroute to Nkwo Ogbakuba market capsized this morning. Only 9 passengers were rescued, the rest are yet to be seen.”
The source stated that, “I wasn’t there when the boat loaded but the information we got unofficially is that it loaded 85 passengers.
Speaking with newsmen on Saturday, a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, expressed shock and deep sorrow over the development which he said claimed the lives of several people.
Ogene, who is the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the House of Representatives for Ogbaru Federal Constituency in 2023 election, said Ogbaru was devastated and in shock over the horrendous boat accident that took the precious lives of some of its sons and daughters.
He said, “This sad news of this terrible accident is numbing and painful to me as a person and must be very devastating, especially to the immediate families of the victims. This is a collective loss for Ogbaru as a whole and we are united in sorrow.”
“My condolences go to the affected families and also Ogbahu people and communities, who have in recent times found themselves in the jaws of severe flood disaster that has practically submerged all our communities and displaced thousands of people.”
The ex-lawmaker had earlier in a statement appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to come to the rescue of the people of Ogbaru over the flood disaster in the area.
According to him, houses, farms and other businesses in Ogbaru, were swallowed by the horrendous flood, leaving many people in dire agony, sorrow, tears and hopelessness.”
He listed some of the affected communities as Ogwu Ikpele, Akili Ogidi, Obeagwe, Ossomala, Ogwuaniocha, Umunankwo, Ogbakuba, Ochuche, Umuzu, Akili Ozizor, Atani, Ohita and Odekpe. Other areas devastated by the ravaging flood include Amiyi, Iyiowa, Ogbeukwu, Okoti and parts of Okpoko.
He added, “It is pathetic. It is a terrible sight in Ogbaru as a result of the flood disaster. The human and environmental conditions here are absolutely pathetic and requires urgent action from government in order to alleviate the sufferings of the despondent victims, most of whom have lost all their belongings to the flood disaster.
“These flood victims that cut across several communities, urgently need relief materials and other assistance from government and it’s agencies, such as NEMA and SEMA. I therefore call on these agencies to rise up to its responsibility and bring urgent succour to the people of Ogbaru, who are currently besieged by flooding, so as to avert the outbreak of health challenges associated with such incident.
“Most of them urgently need food, clothing materials, beddings, medical supplies and shelter.
“Please, NEMA, SEMA and state government, should consider this as a serious and desperate SOS message and treat it with the urgency, humaneness and responsibility that it requires,” he added.
“I also call on the Anambra State Government, to liaise with the Transition Committee Chairman, Hon. Paschal Aniegbuna and President Generals of Ogbaru communities, to coordinate relief efforts to ensure that there are prudently and transparently distributed in the best interest of the victims,” Ogene said.