A vessel suspected to be laden with crude oil has been reportedly distressed and sank within Odioama community at the fringes of the Altantic Ocean in Bayelsa coastline.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that residents of the coastal community confirmed the presence of the distressed vessel but said they did not know where it was coming from or its destination.
Chief Mark Eketekpe, a community leader in Ijawkiri area of Odioama told NAN: “actually, something like that happened a few days ago but we don’t know where the vessel came from.
“Besides, the authorities have come around to arrest and take away the captain of the vessel.
Another resident who pleaded anonymity said: “Yes, we heard a vessel that ran aground within our environment.”
Spokesman for the Joint Task Force in the state, Lt.-Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said he would establish contact with troops in the area before commenting.