Posted by Chinenye on Thu 22nd Oct, 2026 - tori.ng
A boat crash in Rivers State has left families waiting anxiously for news of their loved ones.
(Rescuers Searching for Missing Victims. Photo by Reuters)
Rescuers are still looking for bodies after a boat accident in the Robertkiri waterways in Kula, Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
About ten people are feared dead.
The crash happened on Tuesday evening, when a tugboat and a speedboat carrying more than 15 people from the community collided.
The tugboat, which had security personnel on board, was trying to tow out a 200,000 barrel oil vessel operated by Ibeto Group.
Community members had been protesting the vessel's departure.
They accused the firm of polluting their waterways and fishing ports, refusing to pay local vendors and failing to pay royalties to host communities.
Eight people were pulled out alive.
By Wednesday night, no bodies had been found.
Search teams made up of police, chiefs and local residents are still combing the creeks.
The state police spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, confirmed the loss of life on Wednesday but said the exact number is still being checked.
On Thursday he had no new update.
Ibeto Group, through its subsidiary Max Shipping Services Limited, denied that its chairman, Dr Cletus Ibeto, was directly responsible for what happened.
The company said it owns the vessel but does not run the oilfield.
It said the vessel was hired to Menal Technical Services Limited in 2024, and that it wanted its equipment back because hire payments were overdue.
It also said the crude oil on board had already been offloaded.
The company asked everyone to stay calm and let the security agencies establish the facts.