A National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member is believed to have drowned in a boat accident on Thursday in Okpotuwari Community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
Sources in the community told the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday that the corps member, who hailed from Anambra drowned when the canoe he boarded capsized.
Tontiemote Yeiyei, a resident, said the deceased, who was serving at Okpotuwari Community, had gone to Ondewari with two of his friends across the Osiana creek by a hand paddled canoe.
Mr. Yeiyei said the ill-fated canoe encountered rough currents at the jetty as the deceased and the others were returning to Okpotuwari.
He said that following the boat accident, sympathisers quickly raised a search party, during which the two others were rescued alive.
“The rescue team searched for the remains of the drowned corps member to no avail, and local divers later joined them but they are yet to find the body. Hopefully it will be afloat by Saturday.
“The survivors have been stabilised and are being taken care of at a clinic,” Yeiyei said.
Marine police sources in Southern Ijaw said that the incident was yet to be reported.