Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, has expressed condolences to the families of those killed in a boat disaster in towns between Jebba and Kainji Dam in the state’s Mokwa Local Government Area.
The governor called the occurrence as awful and undesired in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim.
“This is quite a shocking and sorrowful situation to the people of the affected communities and I share in their sorrow. I pray that Allah will grant the deceased Aljannah Firdausi,” the statement said in part.
While commiserating with the victims’ families, the governor urged the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) to do everything in its power to alleviate the people’s pain.
The governor also prayed that Allah would comfort the relatives of the deceased and grant those injured a speedy recovery.
Bago however emphasize the significance of wearing life jackets when boarding boats and discouraged overcrowding on boats.
A boat carrying over 100 people, including women and children from neighbouring settlements to New Gbajibo Resettlement, sank on its way to Old Gbajibo.
The victims, who were claimed to be from the settlements of Gbajibo, Ekwa, and Yankyade, were on their way to farm when the event occurred on Sunday morning.
Over 20 individuals have been confirmed deceased, and over 30 people have been rescued, while a joint rescue effort by marine police and local divers, in coordination with the state emergency service, is still underway.
