REBELS TO WITHDRAW FROM KEY DR CONGO TOWN 'AFTER US REQUEST'. (PHOTO)

Image
 Rebels to withdraw from key DR Congo town 'after US request' The M23 rebel group has said it would withdraw from the eastern DR Congo town of Uvira at the request of the US administration, which had criticised seizure of the town last week as a threat to mediation efforts. The rebels entered Uvira, on the border with Burundi, less than a week after the presidents of Congo and Rwanda met with US President Donald Trump in Washington and affirmed their commitment to a peace deal known as the Washington Accords. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that Rwanda's actions in eastern Congo violated the Washington Accords and vowed to "take action to ensure promises made to the President are kept." A report by a United Nations group of experts in July said Rwanda exercised command and control over the rebels. Rwanda denies supporting M23 and has blamed Congolese and Burundian forces for the renewed fighting. Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Allia...

MANY FEARED DEAD AS BOAT SINKS IN BAYELSA. (PHOTO).


 Many feared dead as boat sinks in Bayelsa


Many persons are believed to have died as fire burnt and sank a boat, Godbless Dickson, between Ekeni and Ukubie communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State at about 5.30am on Wednesday.


Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Bayelsa State Chapter, Ipigansi Ogoniba, said on Thursday that the boat was carrying about 64 persons at the time of the incident, but several persons swam to safety.


Ogoniba said it would be difficult to state the exact number of those who died or survived until much later when he receives reports from boats and local divers engaged in ongoing rescue efforts.


The Yenagoa bound boat usually carried traders who ply their wares from one riverine market to the other and returned to Yenagoa in time for Monday and Thursday, the market days of the Swali Ultra Modern Market.


It is not immediately clear what caused the incident, but it is believed that it started from improper handling of petrol close to the onboard engine.


Ogoniba said, “If anybody says that 18 or 20 persons died, they will be lying because we cannot say for now how many people died or survived.


“The boat carries about 64 persons including load like garri, beans and rice. It moves from community to community where the traders sell their goods and returns on Sunday or Wednesday to meet the market here.


On the return journey, it carries people from town to town; many people join the local boat because it is cheap compared to a speedboat where you pay N12,000 from Ezetu to Yenagoa.


In her reaction, Chairperson of Association of Coastal and Waterways Communities of Nigeria, Bayelsa State, Odede Denikpete Tina, blamed the incident on the refusal of boat operators in the state to observe safety regulations such as putting on of life jackets.


Odede also pleased with the state government to make more effort in connecting more riverine communities by road to minimise the need for water transport.


Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, said the local boat was travelling from Ekeni to Yenagoa when the incident took place claiming about 20 lives.


Mohammed said rescue efforts were ongoing at the scene of the incident.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

SHAKIRA COVERS WOMEN'S HEALTH MAGAZINE,APRIL ISSUE.

INNOSON GIVES OUT BRAND NEW IVM G5 AND SALARY FOR LIFE TO THE MAN WHO PROPHESIED ABOUT HIS VEHICLE MANUFACTURING IN 1979.(PHOTO).

THE NEW OONI OF ILE-IFE,WILL NOT EAT THE HEART OF THE LATE OONI-PALACE CHIEFS.