REC confirms boat mishap in Delta as police sue for calm

Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Cyril Omoregbe, has confirmed that there was a boat mishap on elections eve on Saturday.Ho could not, however, confirm the fate of the occupants of the mishap that took place in Warri North Local Government Area during the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Asaba yesterday.

He said: “I understand that my staff members and the ad-hoc staff are all safe. The actual details have not gotten to me. And I don’t think the mishap affected the electoral materials, because it happened later in the day, from what I know.”

The boat that capsised around Ebrohimi Community creek was said to be conveying INEC ad-hoc staff, security personnel and electoral materials for the polls, when the incident happened.

No fewer than 12 persons were said to be missing as at yesterday morning, but a security source said the incident happened when the victims were returning to Koko, headquarters of Warri North after the Saturday exercise.

Also, the Delta State Police Command has sued for calm over the boat mishap that involved 22 passengers including some officers of the command, just as 18 persons have been rescued, while four others are still missing.

This was contained in a statement issued by the acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Chucks Orisemezie yesterday.He stated that report available to the command, “Reveals that a boat conveying 22 passengers, three Policemen and 19 members of the community returning from ward 3 in Ebrohimi to Koko Jetty, after the elections about 0120hrs capsised along the waterway at Ureju Community.” He noted that the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Adeyinka Adeleke, reiterated his commitment to ensure the safety and security of Delta people at all times.