Two seven-year-old children and two middle-aged women have lost their lives when a boat conveying traders on the River Niger from Yauri town of Kebbi State to Agwara in Niger hit a rock and capsized.
Confirming the incident to newsmen, Yauri Local Government Chairman, Abubakar Shehu, said the victims met their death when they fell into the river, and were unable to swim, and could not be saved by the rescue team.
“When we got the news of the mishap, we mobilised divers and marine police, who immediately swung into action, and saved almost all the traders on board the canoe, except the unfortunate four, who lost their lives,” Shehu explained.
The Chairman further said that, “when the rescue operations ended on Wednesday, the corpses of the missing four were recovered, from the water on Thursday, and deposited in the mortuary at General Hospital Yauri, for claims by their relations.”
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While speaking on the nature of the journey, Shehu ruled out overloading, and the worthiness of the canoe, pointing out that the level of the waters had gone down, as such canoes were bound to hit rocks, tree trunks or undergo any wreckage in the course of their journey.
The Chairman said the government is assessing the volume of the property lost, besides the assistance to be provided to the families of the deceased, stressing that the outcome would be forwarded to the State Government for proper care, besides the little the local government would afford.
Editor : Ena Agbanoma
