Eight lives lost in Adamawa boat accident, seven still unaccounted for
Eight lives lost in Adamawa boat accident, seven still unaccounted for
In a tragic incident in Adamawa State, North-East Nigeria, a boat mishap has claimed the lives of at least eight individuals, with seven others still missing.
The Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA) confirmed this unfortunate event, also reporting the successful rescue of eight passengers.
READ ALSO: Three lives lost, several injured in Bauchi road collision
The incident unfolded on Friday when a local boat, carrying locals, including children, capsized in Njuwa Lake near Rugange village in the Yola South Local Government Area.
Reports indicate that there were a total of 23 passengers on board, all returning from Rigange after purchasing maize.
The boat’s capsizing was attributed to adverse weather conditions, including a thunderstorm that struck around the time of departure.
Suleiman Aminu, the Executive Secretary of ADSEMA, expressed the grim details, saying, “So far, we have recovered eight bodies, and eight individuals have been successfully rescued. We are continuing our efforts to locate the remaining seven missing persons.”
In response to this tragedy, the deputy governor visited the accident site and issued directives to identify all crossing points in the state.
This initiative aims to provide life jackets for passengers, enhancing safety measures for future journeys.
Aminu also offered valuable advice to operators of inland waterways commercial transportation, urging them to exercise caution, especially during periods of bad weather, and avoid overloading to prevent such devastating accidents in the future.