By Samuel Oyadongha
Tragedy struck in the coastal settlement of Opu-Okumbiri (Akassa) in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on the New Year eve as two indigenes of community were swept away by the turbulent sea.

The sad incident, it was learnt, forced the natives to abandon their New Year celebration and instead organised themselves into nine rescue team to comb the sea in search of their missing kinsmen.

Vanguard gathered that the missing persons identified as Messrs Tetenu Johnson, a father of three, aged 29 and Sunny 20, a student had on December 31, embarked on deep sea fishing expedition with a view to raising money for the New Year celebration, when tragedy struck.

A source told Vanguard that the duo were swept off their course on the fateful day by the rough sea and had not been seen since then.

“The missing persons must have drifted away as they could not navigate their compass to land due to fierce weather and poor visibility in the sea,” he lamented.

According to the source, the community youths had to organise themselves into nine groups to search the sea with a view to rescuing the missing persons to no avail.

Confirming the development, the community leader, Chief Simeon Avumgba, who spoke through the community Public Relations Officer, Domo Adam, said distress calls had been sent to the authorities of Brass council, Andoni in Rivers State, trawlers and other sea going vessels in the neighbouring West African countries along the gulf coast.

The community leadership also pleaded with the federal, state and local governments to assist in the search for the missing fishermen.