Apprehension over Fate of 100 Passengers as Boat Capsizes in Cross River
The fate of about 100 passengers who departed Cross River for Cameroon is handing as the vessel carrying them is said to have capsized on the high sea.
The boat is said to have capsized on Sunday in the Gulf of Guinea area, specifically between Nimunda and Edina in Cameroon.
A report filed by Vanguard Newspaper said the sad incident which occurred on Sunday was discovered only Monday afternoon.
The vessel was said to have left the Terminal C of the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, operated by Shoreline Logistics, on Sunday before the incident occurred on the high seas on the way to Cameroon around 6p.m.
Vanguard report said the boat left Calabar around 4p.m. on Sunday, while the incident happened around 6p.m.
The newspaper quotes a source saying, : “On the way to Cameroon it capsized on the high sea. We cannot confirm anything at this moment, but that is what happened.”
The boat was said to have been overloaded with a Cameroonian Naval official who did not want to be quoted saying the boat was carrying over 200 passengers on board.
The boat was said to be heading to Tiko port in Cameroon when the incident occurred.
The official was reported to have said that the Navy was able to save 100 passengers while over 90 passengers are still missing.
He said that Search and Rescue efforts have been on to find the missing passengers.