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At least eight persons were feared dead in a passenger canoe mishap that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at Omeluigboma, near Oko, in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta.
Omeluigboma and Oko communities are situated by the bank of River Niger.
During rainy season, the tributaries of the River Niger usually overflow, causing major flooding in the communities.
The only means of transportation for the residents to connect other communities, including Asaba, Onitsha and environs, during the rainy season, is via canoe transportation.
According to him, the deceased included three women and a man.
“We jumped into the river on a rescue mission, we rescued four passengers, while all efforts to find the remaining four were fruitless.
Ejezie said that a rescue team from the community had been placed on standby to watch and comb everywhere for the missing bodies.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Asaba, DSP Onome Onovwakpoye, confimed the incident adding that “efforts were being made to recover the remaining bodies”.
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