Four Dead, 20 Rescued, 156 Missing in Kebbi Boat Mishap, Says Inland Waterways Authority
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has declared that four people have been confirmed dead, 20 rescued alive while 156 still missing in the boat mishap which occurred in Kebi State on Wednesday.
NIWA area manager in Yauri, Kebbi State, Mr Yusuf Birma, disclosed that the accident was caused by overloading.
“The boat is carrying 180 passengers with 30 Bajaj motorcycles. The victims were going to a market in Malele in Borgu local government area of Niger state from Kebbi and the incident happened just one hour into their trip.
“We are still rescuing the victims; the mishap occurred as a result of overloading. The boat capacity is not up 180 passengers it carried, as we speak, only 20 people have been rescued alive, four dead confirmed while the remaining 156 people are still missing and they are believed to be underwater,” he told reporters.
He also said most of the boats are old and weak.
“The boat involved is a wooden boat which are is old and are very weak but this people will not listen when we sensitised them to reduce the number of passengers they are carrying with the boat,” he said.
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