17 feared dead as boat conveying 23 people capsizes in Adamawa

17 feared dead as boat conveying 23 people capsizes in Adamawa

17 people are feared dead after a boat conveying 23 passengers capsized in Adamawa State.

An eyewitness, Faisal Rugange, said the boat conveying the locals capsized in Njuwa Lake across Rugange village in Yola South Local Government Area just before noon on Friday, when the victims were going to Yola town for business.

Faisal said via the phone late on Friday, “It was raining when the accident happened. A heavy windstorm blew water into the boat and it capsized instantly.”

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He added that although the local boat was carrying more than 20 passengers, only six were rescued by local divers.

Confirming the incident, the Executive Secretary, Adamawa State Emergency management Agency, Mohamed Suleiman, said one person died and five had been rescued but 17 others were yet to be seen.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, said the command had deployed Marine police officers to help in the rescue operation.

He said he could not give the actual number of those in the ill-fated boat as rescue operation was still on.

17 feared dead as boat conveying 23 people capsizes in Adamawa

(NATION)