8 Dead, 5 Rescued After Twin Speedboat Collision Along Cross River-Cameroon Border

A tragic maritime accident has left eight Nigerian passengers feared dead after two speedboats collided in the waters bordering Nigeria and Cameroon.

The Cross River State Police Command confirmed the incident, which occurred along the Ikang axis in the Bakassi Local Government Area.

Details of the Border Maritime Crash

According to a statement released on Wednesday by the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Sunday Eitokpah, the fatal accident took place on September 6, 2026.

One of the vessels, carrying 13 Nigerian passengers, had departed from the Ikang jetty and was heading toward the Republic of Cameroon. The boat was navigating through Cameroonian territorial waters near the Tikoro area when it crashed into a high-powered W23 speedboat equipped with twin Yamaha engines.

Rescue Operations and Recovery

While five passengers were rescued alive thanks to the swift intervention of local Cameroonian fishermen, eight others could not be saved and are presumed drowned.

The bodies of the victims have since been recovered and transported back to Simon Beach in Ikang, Bakassi.

Police Launch Investigation

The Cross River State Police Command has ordered its Marine Police unit in Ikang to oversee the proper identification of the deceased by their families before depositing the bodies at the morgue.

“The Command is currently liaising with relevant international and local authorities, as well as the affected families,” ASP Eitokpah stated, noting that a full-scale investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the collision.