“I Was Forced To Ferry” – Sailor Narrates How Anambra Boat Mishap Happened
Mr Desdmond Amaugo, the sailor ferrying traders in the boat that capsized on Friday, October 7, at Umunankwo in Ogbaru local government area of Anambra State, has said that the victims forced him to ferry them as they were desperate to sell off their crops harvested prematurely due to the flood that submerged their farms before the maturity of the planted crops.
According to the sailor, 48 persons, mainly females and children were on the ill-fated boat contrary to reports that 85 persons were onboard.
“I did not want to embark on that trip, but the people, mostly women, who were desperate to go to Nkwo Ogbakuba market to sell premature crops harvested from flooded farms, begged me to ferry them to the market.
“The market women besieged my house and persuaded me to sail them to Ogbakuba. Having taken off, the wave became too severe and all my attempts to control it failed. The water waves knocked the boat against the pillars of Umunnakwo/Ossomala bridge against all efforts I made to stabilize it.
“Suddenly, the boat capsized. It was terrible seeing people struggle for life” Amaugo said.
As at Sunday, about 19 persons have been rescued while others are still missing.
Meanwhile, the entire Ogbaru local government area has been cut off from the rest of Anambra State as the River Niger has overflown on the Onitsha – Atani- Osomala – Ogwu -Ikpele road, which is the only access route to the local government.
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