Rescue efforts to recover the bodies of persons who drowned in a boat mishap along the Robertkiri waterways in Kula, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State have intensified on Thursday.

Recall that about ten persons were feared dead when a tugboat and a speedboat carrying over 15 persons from the community collided on Tuesday evening.

It was gathered that the tugboat, manned by some security personnel, attempted to pull out a 200,000-barrel capacity oil vessel operated by a firm, ‘Ibeto Group ’, which had been operating in the area before the incident occurred.

The victims were among those protesting the departure of an oil vessel operated by the Ibeto Group over allegations of water pollution, outstanding payment to local vendors and royalties to host communities before the incident occurred.

On Wednesday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Blessing Agabe, had confirmed the ‘loss of life’ in the boat capsize, saying, “Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the exact number of casualties and the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

The community alleged that the activities of the firm polluted their waterways, fishing ports and creeks, refused to pay local vendors and failed to pay royalties due to the host communities in the course of its operations in the area.

However, a source in the community who pleaded anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident said, “The search and rescue team, which included the police, chiefs and other indigenes of Kula, searched through creeks and water bodies where the incident occurred.”

“Eight persons were rescued alive from the boat mishap. However, they were unable to find the bodies of any of the victims as of Wednesday night,” he said on Thursday morning.

When contacted for an update on Thursday morning, the state police image maker, Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said, “No new information for now. I will let you know if there is any development.”

Reacting to the allegations, the Ibeto Group, through its subsidiary, ‘Max Shipping Services Limited ‘, denied that its chairman, Dr Cletus Ibeto, was directly responsible for the circumstances surrounding a boat capsizing incident in Kuka community in which some persons are feared dead.

The company, in a statement on Wednesday evening, said reports linking the recovery of its vessel, ‘Anambra Basin FSO ’, to an alleged oil spill, the deployment of armed personnel and the boat incident contained allegations that required proper investigation.

The statement signed by its legal Adviser, Ikeh Chidinma Sylvia, clarified that it owns the vessel, but neither operates the oilfield nor controls the underlined petroleum operations in the community.

According to the statement, the vessel was hired to Menal Technical Services Limited under a Marine Equipment Hire Agreement dated September 20, 2024, subsequently amended by an addendum.

The company explained that it sought to retrieve its equipment following prolonged outstanding hire payments, adding that the crude oil previously stored in the vessel had been discharged before the demobilisation effort.

The statement partly reads, “We are therefore deeply concerned by reports that have attributed responsibility for the incident and the alleged loss of life to our Chairman, Chief Dr. Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto, or have presented the vessel’s recovery operation as an operation undertaken by him in connection with the underlying oilfield activities.

“The vessel, ANAMBRA BASIN FSO, is owned by Max Shipping Services Limited, a subsidiary of Ibeto Group, and was hired to Menal Technical Services Limited for deployment at the location.

“The vessel’s ownership must be distinguished from the separate petroleum operations and community-related arrangements at Kula Community. Under the contractual arrangement, Menal Technical Services Limited, as the Hirer, was responsible for the vessel’s operations at the location, including the relevant operational arrangements and community-related obligations, in conjunction with the end user, as applicable.

“Accordingly, the operational activities and arrangements undertaken by the Hirer and the end user in connection with the petroleum operations at the location should not be conflated with the ownership of the vessel.

“We are deeply saddened by reports that a community boat capsized and that lives may have been lost.

“We recognise the distress and uncertainty experienced by those awaiting confirmation of the whereabouts and condition of their loved ones, and as the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, we pray that the relevant security authorities investigate the incident and take all necessary lawful steps to protect human life and prevent further incidents.”

The company therefore appealed to all parties to remain calm, refrain from violence, and allow the competent authorities to determine the facts.