The bodies of three medical students involved in the Marina Resort boat incident in Calabar have been recovered, according to the Cross River police command.
Cross River Commissioner of Police, Gyogon Grimah, confirmed the development to the press on Monday.
After a speed boat sank in Calabar, five people were confirmed deceased and three medical students were reported missing.
On Saturday, the boat was en route to Oron in Akwa Ibom state when the disaster occurred.
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Fourteen medical students are said to have boarded the boat at the Calabar resort. Eleven of the victims survived.
According to Grimah, the bodies retrieved were those of two men and a woman.
“As you are all aware, on Saturday, about two days ago, after 3 in the afternoon, there was an incident reported at the Marina Resort here in Calabar where a boat capsized,” Grimah said.
“Three students were drowned and we have not rested since then. It has been rescuing efforts day and night and this morning. I wish to let you know that three bodies have been recovered.”
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) also confirmed the recovery.
Jibril Darda’u, NIWA’s general manager of corporate affairs, said the accident was a result of overloading, engine malfunction, and rainy weather.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the cause of the incident was overloading (the boat is supposed to carry a maximum of nine passengers), engine malfunction midstream, rainy weather, and heavy turbulence that capsized the cruising boat,” he said.
“NIWA has since arrested the operators and sealed the jetty as the boat is not duly registered with NIWA, and the jetty is also not approved by NIWA.”
Darda’u added that 11 survivors who were taken to the hospital have been discharged.
Bassey Otu, the governor of the state, had earlier ordered an investigation into the boat mishap.
He also ordered the suspension of cruise operations and other activities at the Marina Resort after a boat accident.
