Boat capsizes, 47 traders drown in Kogi

A speed boat conveying traders has capsized in River Niger at Bagana in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State killing scores of passengers on board.

A relative of one of the victims, Ibrahim Dantani, who is a native of Umaisha in Toto LGA of Nasarawa State, told Daily Trust that the incident happened around 9:12 pm on Sunday, when the canoe conveying over 47 passengers capsized.

Dantani said most of the victims were traders and natives of Umaisha town, who were returning to Umaisha after attending a local market in Bagana.

It was learnt that the speed boat crashed into a tree in the middle of the river and suddenly capsized.

Dantani added that all the occupants including women and children on board got drowned.

“They were actually returning from Bagana, village market through the river Niger back to Umaisha when the boat hit a tree in the middle of the river and suddenly capsized,” he said.

He said some corpses had been recovered, while a rescue operation was still ongoing.

The Ohimegye of Opanda-Umaisha Kingdom, His Royal Highness Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, confirmed the incident on Monday and said those affected were people from his kingdom, including some Hausa traders and scavengers who were returning from Bagana market back to Umaisha.

The chairman of Toto local government area of Nasarawa state, Abdullahi Aliyu Tashas, also confirmed the incident but was not sure of the exact casualty figure.

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