A routine journey home from work ended in tragedy for two siblings after a leaking canoe capsized on a river in Ahoada East Local Council of Rivers State, claiming both lives and raising fresh concerns over the safety of water transportation in the community.
The victims, identified as 25-year-old Mekalachi Gogochuri and his 23-year-old sister, Rejoice Gogochuri, drowned on Saturday evening when the canoe conveying them and five other passengers overturned at Aliya (Over Bridge) in Ahoada Town.
Their elder brother, Abraham Gogochuri, told journalists that the siblings were returning from work when the accident occurred at about 7:45 p.m.
According to him, the canoe, which serves as a major means of transportation for residents, was already leaking before it set off and had no life jackets for passengers.
“They were coming back from work and boarded a boat to cross the river because that is the route to our house. The boat capsized, and my brother and sister drowned,” he said.
Abraham disclosed that although about seven passengers were on board, only the two siblings lost their lives.
He blamed the tragedy on the poor condition of the canoe and the absence of basic safety measures, accusing the construction company working in the area of failing to provide safe boats and life jackets for residents who are forced to cross the river.
“It was just an ordinary hand-paddled canoe. It had been leaking for a long time, and they even used wrappers to block some of the holes. There were no life jackets. This tragedy could have been avoided,” he lamented.
