Tragedy struck in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Monday as a boat, carrying over 50 passengers, capsized, leading to the reported drowning of at least 30 individuals.
The Chairman of Yauri LGA, Bala Yauri, confirmed this unfortunate incident to the Voice of America via telephone. He expressed the profound sorrow that has enveloped the local government due to the tragedy.
Efforts are currently underway, with local divers actively involved, to locate the bodies of the passengers who tragically lost their lives in the river.
“From the information I gathered, more than fifty persons were involved in the accident while some of them escaped but as of now that I am talking to you, over thirty of them as still trapped in the river.
“We have mobilized the local divers to try and locate bodies of the victims for proper evacuation and possibly befitting burials in accordance with Islamic rights.
“The boat as I heard carried passengers who are mostly traders from either Niger State or Kebbi State alongside foodstuffs for sell before the unfortunate incident”
Also speaking, a witness of the incident, Alhaji Sani Yauri, confirmed that the accident was caused by a heavy wind which resulted in the driver losing control of the boat.
“I was there when the incident happened, it was as a result of heavy wind which resulted in the driver of the boat losing control and it capsized immediately ”
Meanwhile, efforts to speak with the spokesman of the Nigerian Police Force in the state, DSP Nafiu Abubakar, were not successful as he neither responded to calls nor responded to text messages sent to him at the time of filling this report.
