A boat mishap off the coast of Mbo Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State has reportedly led to the deaths of about 10 people.
It was gathered that of the 10 victims, five, who hailed from the Udung Uko Local Government Area of the state, were from the same family.
The deceased were returning from fishing in Ine Ataobong on the Bakassi Peninsula when they sailed into a violent storm, which wrecked their boat, leaving just two survivors.
Commenting on the mishap, a relative of one of the survivors, Mrs. Eno Effai, who deals, described the incident as tragic, stating that there was no life jacket on the boat.
She said: “It is really so sad. The sea has been so rough this period. Many people have lost their lives in the sea while traveling to Mbo or Oron. And this particular one is really sad in the sense that a family of five, including mother and school children were involved in the mishap”.
The sad incident comes a few days after three medical students lost their lives in a boat mishap at Marina Beach in Calabar.
Meanwhile, a group called Mbo Concerned Citizens has urged the creation of a Coast Guard to help the government combat the evil activities of sea pirates on the waterways.
Furthermore, the group emphasized that such an organization would go a long way toward assisting those involved in the boat mishap and ultimately saving lives.
The group expressed this in a statement by its Coordinator, Uloj Amba, in Uyo, the state capital.
It said: “It is becoming very necessary for the government either federal or state to establish a Coast Guard with the mandate to check the unholy activities of sea robbers.
“Our people, especially the fishermen have suffered immensely in the hands of these pirates. No day passes by without an incident on the waterways, which is affecting the livelihood of our people which is fishing.
“Also, the outfit will be of great help to sea travelers as it is being done in developed countries. Nothing stops us from starting it here as well which will give opportunity to young and energetic people to be gainfully employed.
“So, we are appealing to the government to give this a thought. Many of our people have died during this period because of lack of help when they have boat mishap”.
