Indigenes of Kula Kingdom in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday marched through Port Harcourt with the bodies of victims of a boat tragedy to demand answers from the state government.

The protesters reportedly marched along Aba Road towards the Rivers State Government House following the deaths of youths whose boat capsized during a confrontation over the movement of an oil vessel from the community.

The incident occurred amid a dispute over an alleged oil spill and demands by residents for compensation and remediation of the affected environment.

An elder statesman and Kula stakeholder, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, accused the vessel owner of attempting to remove the vessel without meeting the community’s demands.

Sara-Igbe called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to intervene urgently to prevent the situation from escalating and stop youths in the community from taking the law into their hands.

He urged the state government to address the grievances of the community and ensure that the circumstances surrounding the deaths were investigated.

Responding to the protesters, the Chief of Staff to the governor expressed sympathy with the families of the deceased.

He assured the protesters that the state government would investigate the incident to establish the facts and ensure that justice was served.

The protest followed the reported boat tragedy at the Robert-Kiri axis of Kula on Tuesday, when community members attempted to stop the movement of Anambra Basin FSO amid the dispute.

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the incident, saying an investigation was ongoing to establish the exact number of casualties and the circumstances surrounding the boat capsising.

Community stakeholders have alleged that gunboats carrying security personnel were deployed during the operation to move the vessel, with one allegedly hitting the boat conveying the youths. The circumstances surrounding the incident and the allegations against the personnel have yet to be independently established.

Max Shipping Services Limited, the owner of Anambra Basin FSO, has denied responsibility for the incident, saying the vessel was hired to Menal Technical Services Limited and that operational responsibilities were governed by their contractual agreement.

The company has also called for an investigation into the tragedy and urged all parties to remain calm.

The police investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the boat capsising and determine responsibility for the reported deaths. (The Guardian)