by Reuben Daba

These are not the best of times for residents in certain states across the federation, where floods have done unprecedented damage. Bayelsa State, in South/South Nigeria, is one of the states worst hit by the flooding.

On Saturday, tragedy occurred when two canoes used as means of transportation collided with each other at the Akenfa 1 area of Yenegoa Local Government Area of the state. Five persons, including a mother and her three-month-old baby, drowned as a result.

According to reports, the nursing mother was trying to save her baby after the collision and consequently lost her own life.

The incident occurred around 9am. When news of the deaths filtered in, residents were immediately thrown into mourning. Reports say the three others who got drowned, did so due to their inability to swim.

The state government recruited local divers after the incident to recover the bodies of the deceased. The state co-ordinator of the National Anti-Corruption Corps, Princess Egbe, alerted the State Government Committee on Flood, which immediately deployed officials, including the governor’s senior special assistant on Civil Society, Comrade Tony Ile, to the scene of the accident.