Tragic Incident: Six Dead After Navy Boat Capsizes in Delta

Investigation Underway as Navy Boat Capsizes in Delta, Six Perish

Here’s the latest on the tragic incident:

🚨 What Happened

• On the evening of February 24, 2025, two speedboats reportedly collided and capsized near Warri South in Delta State, while carrying passengers returning from a burial.
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• Initial reports confirm at least five fatalities, with around 20 others still missing. Six survivors were rescued and taken to a hospital in Warri.
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🧠 Contributing Factors

• Overcrowding and lack of life jackets: Eyewitnesses noted most passengers wore no life jackets—likely contributing to the high casualty rate.
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• Boats collided at speed, capsizing near a creek—highlighting the perils of inadequate safety standards on local waterways.
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🚑 Response & Rescue Efforts

• Delta State Police, along with marine units and local divers, launched search-and-rescue operations to locate missing passengers.
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• Six survivors remain hospitalized, with injuries ranging from mild to serious. Authorities also confirmed the death toll at five.
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🔍 Why It Matters

• This is the latest among recurring boat accidents in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta and Warri region, where overcrowding, poor maintenance, and safety non-compliance are persistent concerns.
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• The tragedy underscores urgent calls for stricter regulation, mandatory life jacket use, and enforcement of maritime safety standards on local waterways.

✅ Bottom Line

A tragic collision and capsizing near Warri has claimed at least five lives, with 20 people missing and six survivors hospitalized. The incident is a stark reminder of the need for improved safety protocols on speedboat ferries.

Would you like me to track follow-up updates, compare this to other recent Nigerian boat accidents, or explore what safety reforms are being proposed?