Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, on Wednesday disclosed how he narrowly escaped death by an act of providence in the tragic boat mishap that occurred along Bennett Island River in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State last weekend.
Five persons were confirmed dead in the accident, with several others rescued or missing, including a toddler found floating lifeless in the water for over an hour.
The boat, reportedly conveying about 30 passengers from a burial ceremony, had a head-on collision with a submerged log in the waterway.
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Nkem Nwaeke, in a statement, the Speaker said he was involved in the incident but miraculously survived.
According to the statement, the Speaker was returning to Asaba via Warri after engaging with constituents last Friday afternoon when the boat he was aboard narrowly avoided a head-on collision with another, resulting in the death of five persons and injuries to several others.
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The statement added, “His heart goes out to the families of the deceased, and he prays that God grants them the strength to bear these irreparable losses.”
It further explained that the Speaker, who is still in shock over the incident, empathized deeply with the families of the victims and imagined the pain and grief they must be enduring.
While commiserating with the bereaved families, Speaker Guwor called on relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident to prevent such tragedies in the future.
He expressed gratitude to God for sparing his life and the lives of others who survived the mishap.
He also appreciated the prompt response of the rescue team and the medical personnel who attended to the survivors.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
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