According to channel news at least one person is reportedly in a critical condition after an unidentified helicopter shoots passenger boat along the Port Harcourt – Bonny waterway in Rivers State on Thursday night.
According to an eyewitness, many were injured, but one person is reported to be in a critical situation after sustaining an injury which is believed to have affected his spinal cord.
On the possible motive of the attack, the eyewitness who is a boat driver at the Bonny jetty in Port Harcourt, said the helicopter which he thinks was on surveillance duty, may have suspected the boat to be conveying illegally refined petroleum products, which is a common business in the area.
While expressing shock over the incident, the eyewitness said that the boat conveyed passengers and foodstuff.
“The local boat that just left here to Bonny, within the Treasure Island area, a chopper or I will call it a flight helicopter, just came behind, went very low and started shooting at the wooden boat.
“From the information we got from a boat driver, there were passengers in the boat. The boat also contained foodstuff such as garri, rice and other items.
“Everyone knows that is the route transporting foodstuff to Bonny. Some people died in the boat,” he claimed
No security agency has claimed responsibility as it is believed to be a military helicopter and the police are yet to make any comment regarding the incident.
Meanwhile, drivers along the waterway have demanded a thorough investigation into the incident as the fear of their safety on the high seas has now been compounded.