Korede Abdullah 
RIVERS, Nigeria – The Rivers State Police Command has launched an investigation into a boat accident in Kula Kingdom, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, following reports that 10 people died during an operation linked to a dispute over alleged oil pollution.
The police said they were working to establish the actual number of casualties and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, which reportedly occurred on Tuesday evening.
In a statement on Wednesday, the command’s spokesperson, ASP Agabe Karborlo, confirmed that the police were aware of the incident. “The Rivers State Police Command is aware of the incident in Kula Kingdom, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, which reportedly resulted in the loss of lives. Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the exact number of casualties and the circumstances surrounding the incident,” she said.
The incident reportedly happened during a planned operation to retrieve the Anambra Basin FSO vessel amid a dispute over alleged oil pollution in the community.
However, details surrounding the operation and the circumstances that led to the reported capsizing remain unclear. Sukubo Sara-Igbe, an indigene of Kula and President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, alleged that six gunboats arrived during the operation and that a boat carrying community members capsized during the confrontation.
He also alleged that two local security personnel were among those feared dead. “The top boat capsized the boat the community came with, and 10 lives were lost,” Sara-Igbe said, adding that efforts were under way to recover the bodies.
The police have not independently confirmed the reported death toll or the circumstances described by the community representative. The command said its investigation would establish the number of casualties and clarify what happened.
The incident has raised concerns about safety during operations in the coastal community, particularly amid allegations of a confrontation connected to environmental grievances.
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Mirian Gom 