The residents of Bakama in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State have hailed the heroic effort of a young contractor, Joseph Blackson, who saved 13 passengers, but lost his life during the boat accident that claimed the lives of six persons on Saturday.
It was gathered that apart from those who were saved by the fishermen around Iborama, where the passenger boat capsized, Blackson single-handedly rescued 13 persons before he died.
PUNCH Metro learnt that it was while Blackson, who was a diesel supplier, was trying to rescue the 14th person that he died in the river.
Sources said the river was deep and going in and out of it for more than eight times could be energy-sapping.
A friend of the deceased, who identified himself only as Benibo, told PUNCH Metro at the Abonnema Wharf that the 36-year-old father of two was known for helping people in need.
“He (Blackson) used to manage a family filling station at Rumuola (before it was demolished). Until his death, he was a contractor, supplying diesel in Trans Amadi to companies there.
“He didn’t use life jacket like others. He gave up the ghost in the process of rescuing them,” Benibo said.
Blackson is the only person, whose body had been recovered, even as the police insisted that one person died during the boat accident.
Recall that a survivor, who did not want her name mentioned, had blamed the boat accident on the speed of the boat captain.
The survivor also attributed the tragedy to the dirt on the waterways
Emeh Achanga,the CEO of the Miss Petite Nigeria Brand is a lawyer turned blogger. She is very passionate about writing, with several publications and awards to her credit .She is currently working on publishing a collection of short stories which are basically a memoir about her exciting true experiences.
