Eight Nigerian passengers have died following a collision involving two speedboats in Cameroonian territorial waters near Tikoro, along the water route linking Ikang in Cross River State to Cameroon.
The incident occurred on September 6, 2026, at about 12:14 p.m., when a W23 speedboat carrying 13 passengers from Ikang in Bakassi Local Government Area to Cameroon collided with another W23 speedboat powered by two Yamaha engines.
According to the Cross River State Police Command, five passengers survived the crash after local fishermen in Cameroon intervened and rescued them.
The police said the bodies of the eight victims were subsequently recovered and taken to Simon Beach in Ikang.
Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 16.
The Marine Police in Ikang have been directed to facilitate the proper identification of the deceased by their families before the bodies are deposited at a morgue.
The command said it is collaborating with relevant authorities and the affected families to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Investigations remain ongoing, with the police promising to provide further updates as more facts are verified.
