More than 20 farmers were feared dead as a boat carrying about 100 farmers capsized in Koko/Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.
Nafiu Abubakar, the Kebbi State Police spokesperson, confirmed the accident and promised to release details later.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, the chairman of Koko/Besse Local Government Council, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, also confirmed the accident.
He said it occurred on Tuesday night when a rickety boat carried more than 100 rice farmers to Samanaji, a riverine community in the area.
He said 80 of the boat passengers had been rescued, while 10 were found dead and others still missing.
He assured that the rescue operation was still ongoing with a view to saving those still missing.
According to him: “Almost all the passengers are youths, small boys and girls. We have found four female and six male corpses.
“We have rescued more than 80 passengers and we are still searching for the missing others,’’ he said.
The council chairman added: “Prior to the incident, we had called an emergency meeting with the district head of Dutsin Mari and other traditional rulers and leaders of boat operators in the area.
“The meeting was to enlighten them and warn them against the use of rickety, old boats, overloading and travelling in the night.’’
Bello recalled that the council distributed 20 new boats in 2022 in an effort to forestall boat mishaps in the area.
Boat Capsizes In Anambra Leaving Scores Feared Dead
A boat loaded with about 85 passengers has capsized and killed scores of people on board.
It was gathered that the incident took place early on Saturday, October 8, 2022.
The boat reportedly took off from Onukwu Bridge and was heading to Nkwo market, Ogbakuba in Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State, before it capsized.
Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, the Labour Party House of Representatives candidate for Ogbaru Federal Constituency, in a statement, expressed shock and sorrow over the incident.
He described it as a terrible accident and a collective loss for the whole of Ogbaru community.
Ogene said: “Ogbaru is devastated and in shock over the horrendous boat accident that took the precious lives of some of its sons and daughters.
“This sad news of this terrible accident is numbing and painful to me as a person and must be very devastating, especially to the immediate families of the victims. This is a collective loss for Ogbaru as a whole, and we are united in sorrow.
“My condolences go to the affected families and also Ogbahu people and communities, who have in recent times found themselves in the jaws of severe flood disaster that has practically submerged all our communities and displaced thousands of people.”
TRAGIC: 2 Dead As Boat Capsizes In Lokoja
Two persons have lost their lives as a boat capsized in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital following the devastating flood ravaging the Confluence State.
Divers recovered two bodies from the Ganaja River on Monday, October 3, 2022.
As of the time of filing this report, swimmers have been on the search following the capsized boat that was ferrying people to Ajaokuta end of the road.
One of the deceased victims was identified as Abudulfatia Abudulazeez.
An eyewitness said, “The boat mishap had passengers crossing from Ganaja to the Ajaokuta end. Unfortunately, the boat could not take them to their destination as people watched helplessly, with no one to assist since it was at night.”
Efforts to speak with the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer William Ovye Aya proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.
