Tragedy in Kebbi as 14 wedding guests drown in boat mishap
No fewer than 14 people have lost their lives following a boat accident in Kebbi State, after a vessel conveying wedding guests capsized in Yauri Local Government Area.
The incident occurred in Gumbi village, Gumbi Ward of Yauri LGA, as the passengers were returning from a wedding ceremony. The victims had earlier escorted a bride to her matrimonial home in Gwarzo village, Ngaski Local Government Area, before embarking on the ill-fated journey back.
Reports indicate that the boat, said to be overloaded with more than 100 passengers, overturned and plunged occupants into the river. Fourteen people — 13 women and one child — were confirmed dead, while several others were rescued by local residents.
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Governor Nasir Idris attended the funeral prayers and expressed condolences to the bereaved families, the Yauri Local Government authorities, the emirate council, and the wider community.
Represented by the Chairman of Yauri LGA, Abubakar Shu’aibu, the governor urged the families to remain steadfast, describing the tragedy as an act of God.
“I appeal to you to accept this in good faith, bearing in mind that nothing happens without the knowledge of our Creator,” he said. “God does what He wants at the time He wants, and nobody has the right to question Him.”
He also prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls and asked that they be granted Jannatul Firdaus.
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All the deceased were laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites.
The tragedy adds to the rising number of boat accidents in riverine communities across the state, intensifying concerns over boat overloading, inadequate safety precautions, and the absence of proper regulatory enforcement along waterways in Kebbi.
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