A member of the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum and former spokesperson of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Anabs Sara-Igbe, has alleged that ten people, including two security personnel, drowned during a confrontation involving gunboats in the Kula community, Akuku-Iri Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Sara-Igbe, who is also a chief in Kula, made the allegation while speaking with Channels Television over the telephone, claiming that the incident occurred during an attempt to retrieve a crude oil storage vessel, Anambra Basin FSO, from the community.
He alleged that the community had demanded compensation over oil spills linked to the vessel’s operations at Robert Creek, as well as employment opportunities for its people.
According to him, the community prevented the vessel from leaving following the expiration of its contract because the demands had allegedly not been met.
Sara-Igbe said he intervened to encourage a peaceful resolution and that negotiations were ongoing when he received information that six gunboats had allegedly been deployed to retrieve the vessel by force.
“We are resolving this matter peacefully. Instead of resolving this matter peacefully, you sent in gunboats, and ten persons died,” he quoted himself as telling Chief Cletus Ibeto after receiving information about the incident.
He alleged that one of the community’s boats was struck by a stern boat and capsized, leaving ten people, including two local security personnel, who were feared to have drowned.
“In the process, one of the boats used by the community was hit by the stern boat, and the boat sank,” Sara-Igbe said.
The former PANDEF spokesperson also claimed that the gunboats left the scene without attempting to rescue those who fell into the water. He said he subsequently contacted military authorities to establish whether the operation had been authorised.
“I called the commander to know whether he deployed the gunboats, and he said he was not aware of such movement,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, Max Shipping Services Limited has denied allegations linking its chairman, Cletus Ibeto, to the incident, while clarifying its ownership of the vessel and contractual relationship with the company that hired it.
In a statement on Wednesday, Max Shipping said it owns Anambra Basin FSO, which was hired by Menal Technical Services Limited for deployment at the location.
The company explained that its contractual relationship was with Menal, while the vessel’s deployment at Oil Mining Lease 55 involved separate petroleum operations and community-related arrangements involving the hirer and the end user, Belema Oil, as applicable.
Max Shipping said Menal had assumed specified responsibilities under their Marine Equipment Hire Agreement, including operational exigencies, community settlements, security of the vessel and personnel, and demobilisation.
The company said it sought to recover its equipment after prolonged outstanding hire payments and repeated unsuccessful efforts to obtain settlement.
It also stated that the crude oil stored in the vessel had been discharged before the recovery exercise, citing tank inspection documents issued by Checkirem and GSV Inspection Services Limited in September 2026, which it said recorded that the inspected tanks were free and clean of crude oil at the time of inspection.
Max Shipping said its representatives had met with community leaders on several occasions to explain the company’s contractual relationship with Menal and seek a peaceful resolution.
The company expressed sadness over reports of the capsizing and alleged loss of life, saying, “We appeal to all parties to remain calm, refrain from violence, and allow the competent authorities to determine the facts.”
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that it is investigating the incident.
The Public Relations Officer of the Rivers Police Command, Blessing Agabe, said the command was aware of the incident, which reportedly resulted in loss of live, but was still working to establish the exact number of casualties and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Division, also confirmed that a complaint concerning the incident had reached the Army and was being investigated.
As of the time of filing this report, no bodies had reportedly been recovered.
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