Eight Feared Drowned In Cross River Boat Collision

Eight people are feared drowned following a collision between two speed boats in the Ikang axis of Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The Cross River State Police Command said the incident occurred on September 6, 2026, at about 12:14 p.m., while a W23 speed boat carrying 13 Nigerian passengers was travelling from Ikang towards Cameroon through Cameroonian territorial waters around the Tikoro area.

The Command said the boat collided with another W23 speed boat fitted with a double Yamaha engine.

“Following the collision, eight passengers were feared drowned, while five passengers were rescued alive with the assistance of local fishermen in Cameroon,” the Police said.

The bodies of those feared drowned were subsequently brought to Simon Beach in Ikang.

The Police said the Marine Police in Ikang had been directed to ensure that the recovered bodies were properly identified by their families and deposited at the morgue.

The Command added that it was liaising with relevant authorities and affected families to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“The Police Command will provide further information as soon as verified details become available,” it said.

The statement was signed by the Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, on September 16, 2026.