NIWA CONFIRMS 4 CHILDREN, TWO MIDDLE AGED PERSONS DEAD IN BOAT MISHAP IN NIGER STATE

BY GODWIN OBI

AT LEAST, FOUR CHILDREN AND TWO MIDDLE AGED PERSONS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED DEAD IN A BOAT ACCIDENT THAT OCCURED IN TUNGAN LEDA, BORGU LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGER STATE. THE NATIONAL INLAND WATERWAYS AUTHORITY (NIWA), THROUGH ITS SAFETY AGENT DISCLOSED THAT THE BOAT MISHAP OCCURED AT TUNGAN LEDA, BORGU LOCAL GOVERNMENT. YAHAYA SULEIMAN, A NIWA STAFF IN NEW BUSSA SUB-STATION DESCRIBED THE INCIDENT AS SAD AND UNFORTUNATE.

THE AUTHORITY THROUGH THE AREA MANAGER NIGER-KWARA SINCERELY COMMISERATES WITH THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THE DECEASED AND PRAYED TO GOD TO GRANT REST TO THEIR SOULS.

PRELIMINARY REPORTS INDICATED THAT THE WOODEN BOAT WAS OVERLOADED WITH BUNCHES OF SUGARCANE

THE REPORT ADDED THAT THE BOAT WAS CARRYING 25 PASSENGERS ON BOARD WHEN IT CAPSIZED.

IT ALSO REVEALED THAT SIX PERSONS DIED AT THE SCENE WHILE 15 PERSONS WERE IMMEDIATELY RESCUED WHILE FOUR PERSONS ARE STILL MISSING.

THE SAD INCIDENT INVOLVED A PASSENGER BOAT TRAVELLING FROM DUGA MASHAYA AND DUGA GARRI TO WARRA FOR WEEKLY MARKET ACTIVITY. AMONG THE SURVIVORS ARE; MALLAM ADAMU BABANGIDA, ISAH SULEIMAN, ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR, UMAR MAINASARA, ALH AYUBA BAWA, DAN YAR-BAWA AND NURA DRIVER……JUST ARRIVED.