Members of Kula Community in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday stormed Government House, Port Harcourt, with five recovered corpses of victims of the boat mishap at Robertkiri, demanding justice over the tragedy.
Five other persons who were aboard the boat when the incident occurred on Tuesday night are still missing, as search efforts continue.
An illustrious son of Kula, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, said the corpses were taken to Government House to draw the attention of the state government to the scale of the tragedy, which he blamed on an oil company’s activities and the handling of a dispute with the community.
The protesters were received by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Sunny Ewule, who sympathised with them over the loss of lives.
Ewule urged the protesters to remain peaceful and assured them that the government would investigate the incident and ensure that justice was done.
The tragedy reportedly occurred during a confrontation linked to efforts by security personnel to remove an oil vessel held by the community over unresolved environmental and financial grievances.
The community had reportedly prevented the vessel from leaving the area, alleging that oilfield operations had polluted its waters and environment. It also demanded compensation for the alleged pollution and payment to vendors who had rendered services to the operators.
The incident has sparked outrage in the oil-producing kingdom, with community members seeking accountability over the circumstances that led to the boat capsizing.
Sara-Igbe blamed the deaths on what he described as the failure of the company involved to resolve the oil spill dispute peacefully and commence remediation of the affected environment.
Meanwhile, Max Shipping Services Limited, owner of the vessel, has expressed sadness over the incident but denied responsibility for the underlying dispute and the alleged loss of lives.
In a statement dated October 21, 2026, and signed by its legal officer, Ikeh Chidimma Sylvia, the company said its involvement in the area was limited to the ownership and retrieval of its vessel, ANAMBRA BASIN FSO, which it said had been hired to Menal Technical Services Limited.
The company said the incident occurred amid a dispute over oilfield operations at Oil Mining Lease 55 (OML 55), following an alleged oil spill and moves by community members to halt further operations pending remediation and compensation.
Max Shipping expressed concern over reports linking the vessel’s retrieval operation to the alleged deployment of armed personnel and the subsequent capsizing of a community boat.
It maintained that ownership of the vessel should not be confused with responsibility for the petroleum operations or community-related arrangements at the location.
According to the company, its contractual relationship was with Menal Technical Services Limited under a Marine Equipment Hire Agreement dated September 20, 2024, which was subsequently amended by an addendum.
It said Menal had assumed specified responsibilities relating to operational exigencies, community settlements, security for the vessel and personnel, and demobilisation.
Max Shipping explained that it initiated the retrieval of its equipment after prolonged outstanding hire payments and repeated unsuccessful attempts to obtain settlement.
The company also stated that the crude oil stored in the vessel had been discharged before the demobilisation exercise, citing tank inspection documents issued by Checkirem and GSV Inspection Services Limited in September 2026.
It added that its representatives had held several meetings with community leaders in an effort to resolve the disagreement peacefully and explain the nature of its contractual relationship with Menal.
The company further expressed concern over reports attributing responsibility for the incident and the alleged loss of lives to its chairman, Chief Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto.
It insisted that the operational activities of Menal and the end user should be distinguished from its ownership of the vessel.
“We are deeply saddened by reports that a community boat capsized and that allegedly lives may have been lost,” the statement said.
The company added that it recognised the distress of families awaiting confirmation of the whereabouts and condition of their loved ones.
It called on the relevant security authorities to investigate the incident and take necessary lawful steps to protect human life and prevent a recurrence.
Max Shipping also appealed to all parties to remain calm, refrain from violence and allow the competent authorities to establish the facts.
The circumstances surrounding the tragedy, including the sequence of events leading to the boat capsizing, the alleged deployment of armed personnel and the responsibility of the parties involved, remain to be established by the relevant authorities.
The five recovered bodies and the continued disappearance of five others have heightened tensions in Kula, where residents are demanding answers over the incident and the longstanding grievances surrounding oilfield operations in their environment.
