20 Farmers Feared Drown As Boat Capsizes In Kebbi on Tuesday
At least not less than 20 farmers were feared dead when a boat carrying about 100 farmers capsized in Koko/Besse local government area of Kebbi State on Tuesday.
Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the accident and promised to release details later.
Commenting on the incident, the Chairman of Koko/Besse L.GA. Alhaji Yahaya Bello, also confirmed the accident.
He said it happened on Tuesday night when a rickety boat carried more than 100 rice farmers to Samanaji, a riverine community in the area.
According to him, 80 of the boat passengers wrre rescued, while 10 were found dead and others still missing.
He assured that rescue operation was still on-going 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 on emergency meeting with the district head of Dutsin Mari and other traditional rulers and leaders of boat operators in the area, to enlighten them and warn them against use of rickety, old boats, over-loading and traveling in the night”.
Bello recalled that the council distributed 20 new boats in 2022 in an effort to forestall boat mishaps in the area.
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