The Chief
Press Secretary to the Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Dakingari, said on
Wednesday that six traders died while 12 persons were missing after a boat
mishap
on River Niger in Shanga Local Government Area of the state.
Mr.
Dakingari made the confirmation on Wednesday in a statement made available to
the News Agency of Nigeria in Birnin Kebbi.
“Two canoes
were carrying more than 78 passengers, six persons have been confirmed dead
while 12 are still missing and over 60 were rescued,” he said.
He said
Governor Atiku Bagudu of the Kebbi State had directed the traditional rulers,
local government chairmen, Nigerian Inland Waterways’ officials and Marine
Police to prohibit night travels by boats and canoes.
According to
Mr. Dakingari, the governor gave the directive while on a condolence visit to
the relatives of the victims in the area.
NAN reports
that the incident happened following head-on collision of two canoes carrying
traders and their goods on Tuesday at about 8:30 p.m. in Barikin Sakace in Shanga
Local Government Area.
A resident
of the area, Abubakar Maleje, told NAN that it was a terrible scene as the
traders were brought out from the river.
“I have seen
six dead bodies and others are still missing in the river while search and
rescue mission is still on by the authorities concerned."
“Most of the
passengers were travelling in the night in spite of the dangers of river voyage
in the night."
“You can see
the local boat operators over-loading their boats with goods and people,’’ he
said.
The
Executive Director of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Abbas Kamba,
also confirmed the incident.
NAN also
recalls that in September 2017, no fewer than 53 traders were reported dead in
a boat mishap on River Niger in Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi.
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