Again, tragic boat accident kills 32 fishermen in Taraba LG
At least 32 persons, comprising 20 children and 12 adults, have tragically lost their lives in a boat accident in Ibbi town, Ibbi Local Government Area of Taraba State.
Neptune Prime gathered that the boat was conveying over 50 fishermen from Ibbi town to the Eastern part of the country on Saturday for fishing when it capsized around Zabu between Taraba and Benue borders, along River Benue.
A resident of Ibbi town, Malam Ibrahim Ibbi, said 20 children and 12 parents died in the accident.
READ ALSO: Tragedy as boat carrying 100 passengers capsizes in Taraba River
Meanwhile, the state Governor, Agbu Kefas, has described the incident as a tragedy which happened days after a similar one at Karim Lamido.
He condoled with the people of Ibi and prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed.
Kefas, in a message through his Senior Adviser on Media and Digital Communication, Mr Emmanuel Bello, said the occurrence was even more unfortunate coming on the heels of another tragic boat capsize in Karim Lamido that threw the state into mourning.
He said the government was already on top of the situation as various investigations were underway to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the boat accidents in the state.
The governor said he would soon personally tour the affected areas with the aim of meeting with local stakeholders in the water transport sector.
He reiterated his earlier commitment to making water transport safe for passengers, noting that aqua tourism and investment were central to his overall economic agenda.
Governor Kefas said old boats would soon be phased out, and the use of life jackets would made compulsory for travellers using boats in the state.
Boat mishaps are becoming recurrent accidents in Taraba State. Neptune Prime recently reported how a boat carrying over 100 passengers capsized mid-water at Benue River on Saturday, 29th October 2023, killing scores of people.
According to the report, the victims who were mostly traders also comprised women and children, heading for Binnari town in Karim-Lamido local government area of the state where the accident happened, the passengers were returning from the Mayoreneyo fish market in Ardo-Kola LGA of the state.