A boat mishap which occured on New Year eve has thrown Ogbinbiri community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State into mourning as they mourn the death of a 39-year- old pastor and six others.
According to eyewitnesses who spoke to newsmen, the accident occurred when two boats collided sometime around Friday afternoon, causing them to capsize.
Africa Today News, New York gathered that the deceased pastor who was identified as Pastor Salvation Degemy, was the General Overseer of the Supernatural Church of God located in the community.
The other victims included a husband, his sick wife, two children and other relatives travelling to Yenagoa from the community.
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Sources who spoke to reporters also revealed that one of the boats in which the family and the pastor were travelling was conveying a sick woman to Yenagoa for emergency treatment when the accident occurred.
The sick lady, sources said, was initially admitted at the Cottage Hospital in the community but the decision was made to move her to Yenagoa after the Cottage Hospital ran out of oxygen.
Said the source: ‘It was recommended that she be taken to Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa for oxygen. That was where they were heading before the accident happened.
‘Pastor Salvation Degemy was travelling with them to engage in prayer for the dying patient,’ the source said.
Community sources said the tragic event has disrupted the New Year celebration in the community as many people are mourning.
Africa Today News, New York understands that this particular mishap joins the queue of many boat mishaps which were reported in 2021 in different parts of Nigeria.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK