Pastor, 6 Others Drown While Conveying Sick Woman To Hospital

Ogboinbiri community in the Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa state has been thrown into mourning following the death of a 39-year- old pastor and six others. The victims met their untimely death in a New Year eve boat mishap. Two boats were reported to have collided on December 31, causing them to capsize. The pastor identified as Salvation Degema, was the general overseer of the Supernatural Church of God located in the community. Other victims were a husband, his sick wife, two children and other relatives travelling to Yenagoa from the community. Sources disclosed that one of the boats in which the pastor was travelling was conveying a sick woman to Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa for oxygen when the accident occurred.

The dying patient had been on admission at the Cottage Hospital in the community but they ran out of oxygen. The pastor was said to have joined them on the journey to Yenagoa to engage in prayers for the sick woman. According to sources, the sad event has disrupted the New Year celebration in the community as many people are mourning.The Bayelsa state chapter chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Ogoniba Ipigansi, confirmed the incident.