Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has directed state security agencies and maritime authorities to initiate a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding a boat capsize off the coast of Kula Kingdom in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area.
The executive order followed confirmation on Thursday, October 22, 2026, that emergency search teams and local divers had recovered five bodies from the waterway following days of intensive search operations.
Governor Fubara expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families and assured residents that the state government would establish the root causes of the tragedy to prevent future occurrences along the state’s coastal channels.
The incident occurred during a community protest in the Robert-Kiri operational axis, where local residents and youth leaders had gathered in watercraft near a floating oil storage vessel linked to Oil Mining Lease operations.
Protesters had assembled to demand corporate attention over unaddressed oil spill compensation, environmental remediation, and outstanding operational debts owed to local vendors.
Accounts from community representatives indicate that the wooden passenger craft capsized after sustaining a collision during maneuvering operations involving larger vessels servicing the offshore site.
Confirming the formal inquiry, the Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Aboiya-a Bob-Fubara, stated that local authorities are working in direct coordination with the Rivers State Police Command and search parties to locate all unaccounted individuals.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the families affected by this tragic event in our coastal waters,” Bob-Fubara said in a statement issued through his press office. “Our office remains fully open to receiving complaints and gathering factual accounts, which will be forwarded to state and security authorities to ensure a transparent probe and prevent similar occurrences”.
The Rivers State Police Command confirmed that tactical investigators and marine police units have been dispatched to the Kula axis to record witness statements, evaluate maritime safety compliance, and preserve operational evidence.
State officials reiterated that while citizens retain the right to peaceful assembly regarding environmental and economic grievances, maritime operators and commercial entities operating within the state’s waterways must strictly adhere to navigational safety protocols and statutory conflict resolution channels.
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