At least four persons traveling to attend the burial ceremony of the father of wanted ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo had reportedly drowned following a boat mishap on Friday.
The burial rites for Tompolo’s father, Chief Thomas Ekpemupolo, who died on September 7, 2016, over alleged military brutalization, began on Friday at Kurutie in Warri South West Council Area of Delta State
Our correspondent gathered that one of the boats ferrying sympathisers to the venue of the ceremony in the coastal Kurutie community capsized midway, drowning four persons in the boat.
Sources told our correspondent that the accident happened as a result of overload, as it was carrying more than its capacity.
About 25 persons were said to be in the W-19 Yamaha Boat.
A community leader from Gbaramtu Kingdom confirmed the incident to our correspondent when contacted said that three females and a man were feared dead while several other persons were rescued.
As at 2pm on Saturday, a rescue team comprising police and divers were still searching for missing persons.
The spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, SP Celestina Kalu, confirmed the development when contacted on Saturday.
Although, she could not confirm the number of deaths, Kalu disclosed that about 11 persons had so far been rescued by the Marine Police in Warri.
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