BY Ebunoluwa Olafusi
The Cross River police command says it has retrieved the corpses of the three medical students involved in the Marina Resort boat mishap in Calabar.
Gyogon Grimah, Cross River commissioner of police, confirmed the development to journalists on Monday.
Five persons were reported dead while the three medical students were declared missing after the speed boat capsized in Calabar.
The accident occurred on Saturday while the boat was en route to Oron in Akwa Ibom state.
Fourteen medical students reportedly boarded the boat at the resort in Calabar. Eleven of the victims were rescued.
Grimah said the bodies recovered were those of two males and a female.
“As you are all aware, on Saturday, about two days ago, after 3 in the afternoon, there was an incident reported at the Marina Resort here in Calabar where a boat capsized,” Grimah said.
“Three students were drowned and we have not rested since then. It has been rescuing efforts day and night and this morning. I wish to let you know that three bodies have been recovered.”
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) also confirmed the recovery.
Jibril Darda’u, NIWA’s general manager of corporate affairs, said the accident was a result of overloading, engine malfunction and rainy weather.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the cause of the incident was overloading (the boat is supposed to carry a maximum of nine passengers), engine malfunction midstream, rainy weather, and heavy turbulence that capsized the cruising boat,” he said.
“NIWA has since arrested the operators and sealed the jetty as the boat is not duly registered with NIWA, and the jetty is also not approved by NIWA.”
Darda’u added that 11 survivors who were taken to the hospital have been discharged.
Bassey Otu, the governor of the state, had earlier ordered an investigation into the boat mishap.
He also ordered the suspension of cruise operations and other activities at the Marina Resort after a boat accident.
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