Rescue teams intensified efforts on Thursday to locate people feared dead after a boat collision along the Robertkiri waterways in Kula, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
About 10 people were feared dead after a tugboat and a speedboat carrying more than 15 people from the community collided on Tuesday evening.
A community source said the search involved police officers, traditional chiefs and other Kula indigenes, who combed nearby creeks and waterways in an attempt to find the missing passengers.
Eight people were rescued alive, but the search teams had not recovered any bodies as of Wednesday night, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the incident.
Boat Mishap Occurred During Oil Vessel Recovery Operation
The collision reportedly happened as a tugboat, manned by security personnel, attempted to retrieve an oil vessel with a capacity of 200,000 barrels operated by a company linked to the Ibeto Group.
The vessel had been operating in the area before the incident.
Those involved in the boat accident were reportedly among people protesting against the departure of the oil vessel. The protesters had accused the company of polluting local waterways, failing to pay local vendors and withholding royalties owed to host communities.
The circumstances surrounding the collision and the exact number of people who died had yet to be established.
Rivers Police Confirm Loss of Life, Investigation Underway
On Wednesday, Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer Blessing Agabe confirmed that lives had been lost in the boat capsize but said the exact number of casualties remained unknown.
“Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the exact number of casualties and the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Agabe said.
When contacted for an update on Thursday morning, Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said there was no new information available.
“No new information for now. I will let you know if there is any development,” she said.
Kula Community Raises Pollution and Unpaid Royalties Allegations
Members of the Kula community alleged that the company’s activities had polluted their waterways, fishing ports and creeks.
They also accused the firm of failing to settle payments owed to local vendors and pay royalties due to host communities during its operations in the area.
The allegations formed part of the grievances behind the protest against the oil vessel’s departure.
Ibeto Group Denies Chairman’s Direct Responsibility
The Ibeto Group, through its subsidiary Max Shipping Services Limited, has denied that its chairman, Dr Cletus Ibeto, was directly responsible for the circumstances surrounding the boat accident.
In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, the company said reports linking the recovery of its vessel, Anambra Basin FSO, to an alleged oil spill, the deployment of armed personnel and the boat mishap contained allegations that required proper investigation.
The statement was signed by the company’s legal adviser, Ikeh Chidinma Sylvia.
Max Shipping Services Limited acknowledged ownership of the vessel but said it did not operate the oilfield or control the underlying petroleum activities in the community.
Company Says Vessel Was Hired to Menal Technical Services
According to the statement, the Anambra Basin FSO was hired to Menal Technical Services Limited under a Marine Equipment Hire Agreement dated September 20, 2024, which was later amended through an addendum.
The company said it sought to retrieve the vessel because of prolonged outstanding hire payments. It also stated that the crude oil previously stored in the vessel had been discharged before the demobilisation operation began.
Max Shipping Services Limited said ownership of the vessel should be distinguished from responsibility for the petroleum operations and community-related arrangements in Kula.
Under the contractual agreement, the company said, Menal Technical Services Limited, as the hirer, was responsible for the vessel’s operations at the location, including relevant operational arrangements and community-related obligations, in conjunction with the end user where applicable.
It argued that activities undertaken by the hirer and end user in connection with the petroleum operations should not be attributed to the vessel’s owner solely because of ownership.
Ibeto Group Calls for Investigation and Calm
The company expressed sadness over reports that a community boat had capsized and that lives might have been lost.
It also acknowledged the distress faced by families and others awaiting confirmation of the whereabouts and condition of their loved ones.
With the circumstances of the incident still unclear, the company called on security authorities to investigate and take the necessary lawful steps to protect lives and prevent further incidents.
It urged all parties to remain calm, avoid violence and allow the relevant authorities to establish the facts surrounding the collision and the allegations connected to the oil vessel’s recovery.
Exact Number of Casualties Remains Unconfirmed
As of Thursday morning, rescue teams had reportedly recovered no bodies, despite finding eight survivors.
Police said investigations were continuing to establish the circumstances of the accident and the final casualty figures.
The community’s allegations against the companies involved and the Ibeto Group’s response had yet to be resolved through the investigation.
