Nigeria finds 29 survivors from trafficked immigrant boat

(Reuters) - Nigerian authorities have so far rescued 29 survivors from a boat carrying scores of trafficked immigrants that sank on its way to Gabon, the National Emergency Management Agency said on Thursday.

At least 45 people drowned, according a local doctor who said he received the bodies.

Initial reports from traders at the dock from where the boat departed suggested there were 166 people on board, but emergency agency spokesman Yushua Shuaib said on Thursday there were actually 128 people, based on the boat's manifest.

"The boat originated from Benin. Security agencies are still investigating the allegations that the boat was involved in human trafficking," he said. "The rescue operation is still ongoing."

He said the agency had itself only been made aware of nine bodies recovered so far.

Survivors told Reuters on Wednesday the boat had been carrying illegal immigrants trafficked to Gabon, an oil producing state of around 1.5 million people that enjoys relative prosperity by west and central African standards.

Trafficking routes from West Africa to Europe through Spain's Canary Islands are well known, but Gabon is also top destination for immigrants seeking a better life.

In July 2008, the bodies of 37 suspected illegal migrants were found dead on the seafront of Gabon's capital Libreville, after a boat capsized taking the same Nigeria to Gabon route.

(Reporting by Afolabi Sotunde; Writing additional reporting by Tim Cocks in Lagos; Editing by Alison Williams)

Okija_juju:

iamswizz: Thank God for the rescuers.
1st!!!!! to be rescued

omoodeogere: 3rd to be rescued

Okija_juju: All Glory be to the rescuers...

_{4th to be rescued...}

Boat mishap: Survivors, NEMA speak on victims’ identities

The two survivors of the ill-fated wooden boat which capsized 40 nautical miles off the coast of Calabar on Friday have disclosed that the victims who perished were mostly foreigners.

13-year-old Hafsat Zakare is a Nigerian, but lives with her parents in Gabon, while Kive Sani, 27, is a Togolese.

Both of them are recuperating in Bakor Medical Centre, Calabar. They told Blueprint in Calabar that the incident occurred as a result of a complete breakdown of the outboard engine used, and that the boat carried 133 passengers and five crew men and not 168 as previously reported by the media.

They said the passengers who were mostly females, few children and a pregnant woman were Gabonese, Nigeriens, Togolese, and Ghanaian nationals, with few Nigerians.

According to Sani, he was promised greener pastures in Gabon by his master at Oron, where he had been resident for over one month.

Sani said he had already paid a certain amount of money to his master to get him a good job in Gabon and was expected to balance up after getting the job, with interest which they mutually agreed on.

He said most of the women aboard the boat did not pay the fare due to an arrangement they had with their respective masters, and feared that the women and the many kids in the boat might have been trafficked.

Addressing journalists yesterday evening, the Director-General of Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Vincent Aquah, said the incident took place at Ado, off Addax petroleum field, He also said the total number of passengers were altogether 138, with the crew members.

He gave the name of the boat as M.V. Sunny, stressing that the sketchy information put together by his agency indicated that the boat was not carrying many Nigerian citizens.

“Some of the items found on the bodies of the victims were wrappers, slippers, ampicilin capsules and MTN SIM card. The ampicilin and the SIM card with serial no. 455971831192 have nothing to do with Nigeria,” he said.

alfredo4u: to God b thy glory great things He has done, so luv He thy world that He gave us His Son.

Thank God 4 d survivers

Gbagaun...

eGuerrilla: While no more than a moot point given the scale of this tragedy, the following report indicates most of the victims involved were actually foreigners.



Source

salt 1: I am so ignorant. Did the boat originate from Benin City or Benin Republic? I am not aware that Benin City has a seaport

salt 1: I am so ignorant. Did the boat originate from Benin City or Benin Republic? I am not aware that Benin City has a seaport

jentlsoul: Survivors u now have another opportunity of life so repent and do accept islam because is the only way to save u. God is one not 3 in 1 . Jesus is a great prophet of GOD like ADAM, JOCOB, MOSES and down to the last one MOHAMMED. AFTER HIM MOHAMMED no more PROPHET from GOD because the message had been completed by him.

jentlsoul: Survivor u now another opportunity of life so repent and do accept islam because is the only to save. God is one not 3 in 1 . Jesus is a great prophet of GOD like ADAM, JOCOB, MOSES and the last one MOHAMMED. AFTER HIM MOHAMMED no more PROPHET from GOD because the message had been completed by him.

jentlsoul: Survivor u now another opportunity of life so repent and do accept islam because is the only to save. God is one not 3 in 1 . Jesus is a great prophet of GOD like ADAM, JOCOB, MOSES and the last one MOHAMMED. AFTER HIM MOHAMMED no more PROPHET from GOD because the message had been completed by him.

omoodeogere: 3rd to comment

iamswizz: Thank God for the survivors







1st!!!!!

omoodeogere: 3rd to comment

Okija_juju: All Glory be to the rescuers...

_{4th to comment...}