Eleven persons have been confirmed dead following a boat mishap on a river at Gurin town in Fufore local government area of Adamawa state
The mishap occurred two days after 15 persons died in a similar boat mishap in Njuwa river of Yola South local government area of the state. Gurin town is in Central Adamawa state where farming and fishing are the major occupations
Residents said the boat capsized at a time farmers were rushing home to avoid rainfall in the face of a gathering storm.
Around 40 passengers including women and children were said to have boarded the ill-fated boat which capsized midway into the journey after strong winds and thunderstorms started and over powered the grip of the boat leading to the death of the 11 persons instantly.
13 passengers are yet to be accounted for while 16 survived and made it to the shores of the river.
Adamawa state Governor Ahmadu Fintiri had to cut short an official engagement in Abuja and flew back to the state and straight to the accident with his Deputy Prof Kaletapwa Farauta and other top government officials.
The governor carried one of the rescued infants, commiserated with the people of and promised to put measures in place to enhance safety on the state’s waterways
A similar incident occurred over the weekend on Njuwa river in Yola South local government area of the state where 8 persons were confirmed dead and others unaccounted for.
(Editor Oloyede Oworu)
