A boat carrying approximately 100 farmers capsized on Tuesday in the Koko/Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State, killing 10 of them and leaving another 10 still missing.
DSP Nafiu Abubakar, the state police command’s spokesman, acknowledged the incident and promised to provide more information later.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday, the Local Government chairman, Yahaya Bello, confirmed the incident, saying it occurred on Tuesday.
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He said 80 of the boat passengers had been rescued, while 10 were found dead and others still missing.
He assured them that rescue operation was still ongoing with a view to saving those still missing.
“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 said.
“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, over-loading and travelling in the night,’’ the LG chairman added.
Bello said LG had distributed 20 new boats in 2022 in an effort to forestall boat mishaps in the area.
