By FESTUS AHON
AT least five persons, weekend, perished in a fatal boat accident, involving a high-powered speedboat and a ferry boat along the busy Ojobo waterway in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

Vanguard gathered that the accident occurred at aboout 8pm last Friday at the waterfront between Esampou community in Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State and Ojobo community.

Our correspondent learnt that the accident claimed the lives of five passengers out of the 13 on board the speedboat. The  speedboat was said to be carrying members of Ojobo community, who were going for a wake-keep at  Enekorogha community.

Narrating his ordeal, owner of the ferry, Mr. Aperebo Otobo, described the Friday evening as “black and gloomy”, saying that he was heading with his ferryboat towards  Ekeremor town, when the accident occurred.

According to Otobo, “I heard a sound of the speedboat as I was approaching the Esampou bend. The boat had no marine illuminator and the fast  speedboat could not sight my torch light, so we colluded.”

He said they all had to swim to the shore for safety, adding that it was at the shore they discovered that five passengers aboard the speedboat were missing.

He lamented that they could not go in search of the missing persons because it was night, and they only discovered the next day that they were all dead. Also speaking, a relative of one of the deceased persons described the accident as unfortunate.

The relative, who pleaded anonymity, said his late brother, Mr.Gbafade  Ribadu, was a new employee of the  Post Primary Education Board, PPEB, Asaba  and was full of life, disclosing further that a pregnant woman was also among the dead.