Four people, a man and three women, who were among the sympathizers traveling to attend the burial of late Thomas Ekpemupolo, father of Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) were said to have died in a boat mishap.
Two of the female victims were said to have come from Kurutie and Ogulaha communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom. The victims boarded the ill-fated speed boat at the Miller Waterside in Warri to attend the weeklong funeral which commenced yesterday, Friday
feared dead in Warri River on Friday in a boat mishap involving the funeral party to the burial of.
A community leader in Gbaramatu Kingdom, who requested anonymity, told journalists on Saturday in Warri: “we were already at the funeral celebrating Chief Thomas Ekpemupolo when we got news of the accident. Initially, we were told only two persons died, later we heard that the victims were four.
”The male victim, who was apparently from the northern part of the country, was on a mission to sell some wares at the funeral ground,” he said.
Mr. Ekpemupolo died on September 7 at Lily Clinic in Warri.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Police Command’s spokesperson, Celestina Kalu, has confirmed the incident and said that the number of casualties were yet to be ascertained.
“I was regretfully informed that AW-19 boat mounted with 115 horsepower Yamaha engine capsized at Warri River. My patrol team rescued 11 persons; searching and investigation is ongoing.
“For your information, there is no manifest to show the number of passengers in the boat.
“So the number of deaths is not certain yet, the bodies will float by tomorrow,” said the Delta police spokesperson.
Tompolo is a former militant leader in the area. He is wanted by law enforcement agents in Nigeria.
(NAN). [myad]
