By Cajetan Mmuta
Families and residents have continued to mourn following the recovery 16 dead bodies inuding those of little children by a combined search team of Ogbaru local government area of Anambra’ State and officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in the wake of the flood disaster that led to boat capsize in the State.
Besides, 30 of the missing persons have so far been rescued alive while eight othés are still missing.
The sailor of the ill-fated boat, Mr. Desmond Amaugo, who confirmed the numbers of persons onboard, said most of the occupants of the boat were mainly market women heading to Ogbakuba for their trading.
Amaugo, said that the boat capsised due to strong waves that hot the water and knocked the boat against the pillars of Umunnakwo/Ossomala bridge despite all efforts he made to stabilise it.
Some those who lost their lives in the ill-fated boat were Mrs Achonu, wife of one Mr Bernard Achonu and her three children aged between two and six.
Families of the victims, including Mr Bernard, Mr Kenneth Ezi and Dominic Amuzir in reaction said they were shocked over the sad development.
They call on the state and federal governments to Wade into the matter in order to avert future occurrence..
The State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA) had assured that the search would continue.
Former Transition Committee Chairman of Ogbaru local government area,Mr. Arinze Awogu, however gave the figure of recovered dead bodies as 13.
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He said before the end of the day, they believe that more would be recovered, adding that it had not been an easy task.
“All hands are on deck. Recovering the bodies will not be easy and before night today , we hope more bodies will be found ” Awogu said
One of the indigenes of the area, Eze Ogbugbulu, had also disclosed that 16 bodies were recovered, including children.
The boat had capsized in River Niger, Anambra State at the weekend.
The executive Secretary of SEMA and former Secretary to Anambra State Government, Chief Paul Odenigbo, said, ”For now, I can’t quote any figure of dead bodies recovered because it’s a continuous process. The agency has not rested since then.
He said, “When something like this happens, it takes up to a week before you start seeing the bodies because, they will go down deep in the river.
“What happened was pathetic and regrettable. It will take sometime before the bodies come up and start floating in the water. Out of the 85 persons on board, only nine were rescued and since we’ve not seen the rest, it’s assumed something bad must have happened. It’s quite unfortunate ” Odenigbo said
Also, Chief Ogbugbulu, “To tell you the truth, majority of the people in that capsized boat are from Okpolodu camp in Ogwu-anocha, the last Community before Rivers State and Mputu.
“It is difficult to recover those bodies because some of the bodies will hang in some of the metals and trees inside the river.
“But as we talk now, we learnt 16 bodies were recovered late Saturday and we’re still waiting today (Sunday) to see what will happen. It’s a difficult situation for us.
“We are talking about the flood that has submerged virtually every building in Ogbaru and now this “Ogbugbulu stated.
