A man and his four children are among 103 persons confirmed dead and over 70 others missing in a boat accident that occurred along the Niger-Kwara waterways on Tuesday.
The
Kwara State Police Command’s spokesman, Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the death toll last night.
Okasanmi confirmed the incident, adding that officers from the local division were dispatched to the scene as soon as the information was received.
The police spokesman confirmed that 103 bodies were recovered by rescuers from the scene.
Similarly, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed that they received a report about the boat crash, adding that search and rescue operations had begun.
Head, Information Unit, NSEMA, Ibrahim Hussaini, who spoke to The Nation, said the information would be shared at the end of the search and rescue operations.
An unconfirmed source earlier said the accident occurred around 3am on Tuesday, adding that it happened between Egbu village in Patigi area of Kwara and Mokwa axis of Katcha in Niger.
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Over 70 persons were said to be missing after the accident.
About 50 bodies were reportedly recovered from the river at the time of this report.
It was gathered that the victims, numbering about 300, were returning to Kpada village in Kwara after attending a marriage ceremony at neighbouring Egboti community in Niger State.
The boat was said to have capsized as a result of the tempestbfrom the river which tossed the boat around and made it to hit a tree.
Those who died from the crash, it was learnt, included 69 people from Egbu village, 36 from Gakpan village and four from Kpada village, all in Patigi local government area of the state.
Commiserating with the people of Patigi, Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in a statement by his media aide, Rafiu Ajakaye, prayed the Almighty to repose the souls of the deceased.
“The governor continues to monitor the rescue efforts already mounted since Monday night in search of possible survivors. He commends the alertness of the Etsu Patigi His Royal Highness Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bologi II and other local government authorities for the efforts to safe as many people as possible who may have survived the mishap,” the statement added.
Also, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, while commiserating with the Etsu of Patagi, described the boat accident as unfortunate and disheartening.
His condolence message was contained in a statement by the Emir’s Spokesman, Malam Abdulazeez Arowona.
“Our hearts and prayers are with you at this auspicious moment and may Almighty Allah give you all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss this incidence might cause you,” the Emir said
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