Tragedy struck in one of the riverine
communities in Ondo State yesterday as
a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
member, identified as Juliet Okorocha,
died in a boat mishap.
The deceased corps member, who was
serving in Ilaje Local Government Area
of Ondo State, was reportedly drowned
in a boat accident at Igbokoda
waterways.
The incident, which reportedly
happened yesterday, involved the
deceased and seven other passengers
who boarded a speed boat at Ilepete, en
route Igbokoda, the headquarters of
the local government.
It was learnt that the speed boat
capsized at the middle of the river and
as a result the eight passengers on
board sank.
According to a source, it took the
marine policemen and other security
agents who came for rescue mission
several hours before seven of the
victims could be rescued, leaving only
the late corps member in the water.
However, after 24 hours of rigorous
efforts of the rescue team, the lifeless
body of the deceased was recovered.
The State Police Public Relations
Officer, Mr Wole Ogodo, who confirmed
the incident, said the corps member
died in the accident because she did not
know how to swim.
Ogodo described the incident as
unfortunate, and said that the corpse
of the deceased had been deposited at
the mortuary of a hospital in Okitipupa.
According to him, “She was coming to
Igbokoda town from the place she was
serving in the riverine area. The speed
boat that conveyed them caught fire in
motion. I think they were eight on
board, but she was the only one who
died because she was not rescued on
time and she didn’t know how to swim.
It is very unfortunateâ€
Ogodo added that information at his
disposal indicated that immediately
the boat caught fire, late Okorocha, out
of fear, jumped into the water. This,
according to the PPRO, made it difficult
for the local swimmers and the police
rescue team to locate her in time.
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