The death toll from a boat accident along the Robertkiri waterways in Kula Kingdom, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, has reached seven following the recovery of the two remaining bodies.
The victims were identified as Davies Opiri, Secretary of the Kula Community Development Committee (CDC), and David Sukubo, younger brother of the President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria.
According to reports, the bodies were recovered on Saturday by a search and rescue team comprising community leaders, divers, local vigilantes, and fishermen. They were subsequently deposited at a morgue in Port Harcourt after identification by their relatives at the Abonnema Divisional Police Headquarters.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, when a speedboat conveying 15 people capsized along the waterways during an operation involving the movement of an oil vessel from the Kula coastal waters.
Eight people were rescued alive, while seven others were initially reported missing. Five bodies were recovered in the first phase of the search operation before the remaining two victims were found.
Background to the Incident
The accident occurred amid tensions between members of the Kula community and parties involved in the operation to move an oil vessel, identified in reports as Anambra Basin, from the area.
Community members had reportedly opposed the vessel’s departure over grievances relating to alleged environmental pollution, outstanding payments to local vendors, and concerns about the treatment of host communities.
The vessel, which has a reported capacity of 200,000 barrels, is owned by Max Shipping Services Limited, a subsidiary of the Ibeto Group. The company said the vessel had been hired to Menal Technical Services Limited under a contractual agreement.
Community members reportedly attempted to prevent the vessel from leaving the area while pressing their demands for the resolution of the outstanding issues. The situation escalated during the operation, resulting in the capsizing of the speedboat carrying the residents.
Community Demands Investigation
Following the incident, community leaders accused parties involved in the vessel’s movement of responsibility for the deaths and called on the authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
On Thursday, October 22, some residents and community representatives reportedly took the recovered bodies to the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt to demand justice for the victims.
The delegation was received by government officials, who expressed condolences to the bereaved families and assured the community that the matter would receive attention.
The police also indicated that an investigation was necessary to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine responsibility.
Ibeto Group’s Subsidiary Reacts
Max Shipping Services Limited has denied allegations linking its chairman, Cletus Ibeto, directly to the incident.
The company explained that although it owned the vessel, it had been hired to Menal Technical Services Limited under a contractual arrangement. It maintained that the vessel’s ownership should be distinguished from the operational activities and community-related arrangements handled by the hirer and other parties.
The company also expressed sadness over the reported loss of lives and called for an investigation by the relevant authorities to establish what happened.
The allegations made by community members have not, in the reports cited, been established by an independent investigation.
With the recovery of the two remaining bodies, all seven victims initially reported missing have now been accounted for, while questions surrounding the circumstances of the accident and responsibility for the deaths remain central to calls for a thorough investigation.
