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Nigeria: Journalist, Policeman Die in Bayelsa PDP Boat Mishap
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Vanguard (Lagos)
13 May 2008
Posted to the web 14 May 2008
Samuel Oyadongha
Lagos
A sensitisation campaign embarked upon by the Peoples Democratic in Bayelsa State for the forthcoming governorship election in the state Monday turned tragic as two persons, a journalist and a police sergeant lost their lives in a boat mishap while two others escaped unhurt.
The deceased persons were identified as Mr. Preye Vellor, a staff of the state owned radio station, Glory FM and Sergeant Monday, a police orderly to the state Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Chief Ayakeme Whiskey.
It was gathered that the commissioner was on a sensitisation campaign to garner support for Chief Timipre Sylva ahead of the forthcoming court of appeal ordered re-run governorship election when the incident occurred on the Forcados River.
One version of the incident had it that the team had finished its campaign at Angalabiri community in the Sagbama local government area of the state and that on their way back, the policeman out of ecstasy started shooting into the air causing the boat driver to lose control and capsized.
Another account had it that the duo met their untimely death when their boat was hit by a strong wave causing the driver to lose control and leaving its occupants at the mercy of the swift moving tide.
It was learnt that while two other occupants of the ill-fated boat managed to swim to safety the journalist who also doubled as the information officer to the commissioner and his police orderly could not make it as they drowned.
The deceased journalist Vanguard learnt got married to a lady from Benue State in Makurdi only last month.
As at the time of filing this report, local divers and sympathizers are still searching the Forcados River , scene of the incident to retrieve the remains of the deceased.
Lamenting the sad development incident, the state council of the Niger Union of Journalists, described the incident as unfortunate and called on government functionaries travelling with journalists to make adequate arrangements for their safety.
The council in statement signed by its Secretary, Mr. Alaowei Ekiye, noted with sadness that Vellor until his death was a staff of the presentation department of the state radio station.
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Bayelsa state commissioner of Police, Mr. Julian Okpalaeke who confirmed the incident to however, said information on the incident was still sketchy.
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