The police command in Delta State said five passengers died in a boat accident at Bennett Island in Gbaramatu Kingdom in the Warri South-West Local Government of the state.

Spokesman for the command, SP Bright Edafe made this known to journalists on Tuesday in Warri, Delta State.

Mr Edafe added that six other persons were injured in the accident, 19 persons were rescued while one person was still missing.

“Five found dead, six persons injured and still receiving treatment, 19 persons rescued and one still missing,” Mr Edafe said, without giving further details.

Sources said that the ill-fated boat was returning from a burial ceremony at the wee hours of Saturday when the incident occurred.

Sources said that the boat, which conveyed about 30 passengers, had a head-on collision with a submerged log on the waterway.

According to sources, the boat capsized and threw the entire passengers onboard into the water.

“The incident threw the passengers onboard the boat into the water. Of course, many of them were unable to swim and were also not wearing life vests, so they drowned immediately. The body of a toddler was found floating on the creek hours after the tragic mishap,” one of the sources said.

(NAN)