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| File Photo |
No
fewer than 19 children have been reportedly drowned in a boat mishap on
Saturday in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State.
fewer than 19 children have been reportedly drowned in a boat mishap on
Saturday in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State.
The boat, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt,
was conveying the victims across River Niger for a programme at a traditional
wedding ceremony in a community in Niger State.
was conveying the victims across River Niger for a programme at a traditional
wedding ceremony in a community in Niger State.
The
boat, conveying about 22 people mostly children, capsized while crossing the
river. A source said while two of the passengers were rescued, the 19 others
drowned and died.
boat, conveying about 22 people mostly children, capsized while crossing the
river. A source said while two of the passengers were rescued, the 19 others
drowned and died.
According to him, all effort to
rescue other passengers proved abortive.“As at yesterday evening, four corpses
have been recovered from the river.
rescue other passengers proved abortive.“As at yesterday evening, four corpses
have been recovered from the river.
“Effort would resume this morning
again to ensure that others also are found.
again to ensure that others also are found.
“Both men of the Nigeria Police
and the State Fire Service were there yesterday in the rescue mission.
and the State Fire Service were there yesterday in the rescue mission.
“Unfortunately only two of them
survived,” the source said yesterday.
survived,” the source said yesterday.
Meanwhile,
the Secretary of the Lafiagi Traditional Council, Sulyman Aliyu, has confirmed
the incident.
the Secretary of the Lafiagi Traditional Council, Sulyman Aliyu, has confirmed
the incident.
Aliyu said the number of the
victims could not be ascertained yet, noting that there was a conflict in the
number.
victims could not be ascertained yet, noting that there was a conflict in the
number.
“Definitely they are up to 12. The
figure is between 12 and that 19 that you said,” he said.
figure is between 12 and that 19 that you said,” he said.
The secretary also
confirmed that four corpses were recovered on Saturday and that efforts to
remove others would continue yesterday.
confirmed that four corpses were recovered on Saturday and that efforts to
remove others would continue yesterday.
The Public Relations Officer of the
Kwara Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi, also confirmed the incident.
Kwara Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi, also confirmed the incident.
He said the officers of the force
and other security agencies had joined the local government council to recover
the corpses.
and other security agencies had joined the local government council to recover
the corpses.
He, however, said the number of
the passengers and the victims could not yet be ascertained as the recovery
exercise was still ongoing.
the passengers and the victims could not yet be ascertained as the recovery
exercise was still ongoing.
