20 Feared Dead In Kebbi Boat Mishap

At least twenty people reportedly died in a boat mishap in a community in Kebbi State on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.

The incident was confirmed to newsmen by the State Command of the Nigeria Police Force through its spokesperson, DSP Nafiu Abubakar.

The police mouthpiece revealed that the boat was conveying rice farmers from Samanaji community of the Koko/Besse Local Government Area of the state when the accident happened.

According to Abubakar, out of the hundred passengers in the boat, only 80 were rescued, and ten were found dead, while the remains of the other ten could not be found as of reporting time.

He assured that the rescue operation was still ongoing to save those still missing.

Also speaking about the incident, the chairman of the Koko/Besse Local Government Council, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, told reporters on Wednesday (today) that the accident occurred on Tuesday night when a rickety boat carried more than 100 rice farmers to Samanaji, a riverine community in the area.

According to him, “Almost all the passengers are youths, small boys and girls. We have found four female and six male corpses.

“We have rescued more than 80 passengers and we are still searching for the missing others,’’ he added.

The council chairman added: “Prior to the incident, we had called an emergency meeting with the district head of Dutsin Mari and other traditional rulers and leaders of boat operators in the area.

“The meeting was to enlighten them and warn them against the use of rickety, old boats, overloading and travelling in the night.’’

Bello recalled that the council distributed 20 new boats in 2022 in an effort to forestall boat mishaps in the area.