Death toll reaches 106 in devastating Kwara boat mishap, 144 people rescued
The Kwara State Police Command has reported that 144 individuals have been rescued following a boat mishap on Monday, which claimed numerous lives in the Patigi local government area of Kwara State.
The police have confirmed that the death toll stands at 106.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Ajayi Okasanmi, the boat, carrying approximately 250 passengers, capsized between Ebu and Dzakan villages in Patigi local government area.
Among the casualties, Ebu Village accounted for 61 deaths, Dzakan Village had 38, Kpada Village had 4, and there were three casualties from Kogi State, bringing the total number of deaths to 106. Around 144 people have been rescued.
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The Divisional Police Officer of Patigi Divisional Headquarters received information about the boat accident along the River Niger axis. In response, the Commissioner of Police, CP Paul Odama psc+, dispatched a team of policemen to join local authorities and residents in the rescue efforts.
The boat was transporting people from Gboti village, via Patigi, after a wedding ceremony to Ebu Village and Dzakan Village, all located within Patigi local government area.
As the boat left the shore, one side near the engine collapsed, allowing water to enter and ultimately leading to the capsizing of the boat. Despite attempts to seek assistance from the villagers hosting the wedding ceremony, no help was received, resulting in the deaths of approximately 106 people.
The Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) Chairman of Patigi Local Government area, Alhaji Ibrahim Liman, suggested that the accident may have been caused by water leaking into the boat, affecting its movement and causing it to capsize.
He further explained that all survivors of the accident swam to the river bank unaided, as they possessed swimming skills.
Meanwhile, Malam Abubakar Yelwa, the Managing Director of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), attributed the high death toll to the passengers’ failure to use life jackets. Yelwa stated that the commission had invested billions of naira to provide life jackets for individuals living in the HYPPADEC-covered area.
He called on the Kwara State House of Assembly to enact legislation mandating the use of life jackets by residents of riverine communities and boat operators during water travel. Yelwa emphasized that life jackets could keep victims afloat for up to seven hours, allowing ample time for rescue operations.
Furthermore, the Kwara State House of Assembly has urged the state government to collaborate with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to prevent future disasters in the state.
This resolution came after discussing the recent boat mishap raised by Hon. Saba Gideon, the representative of Edu Constituency. Hon. Gideon attributed the incident to the failure of the Federal Inland Water Ways to safeguard the nation’s waterways.
The House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu-Danladi, read the resolutions, calling on the Ministry of Works and Transport to work closely with the National Inland Waterways Authority to develop lasting solutions and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The members of the assembly also expressed their condolences to the state government and the families of the victims.
