A number of blogs in Nigeria have reported of about 106 wedding guests who died through a mishap on a boat they rode on their way back home after attending a wedding.
According to reports, the boat capsized on the Niger River at night, when the passengers were returning from the wedding party.
TheNewyorkTimes reported that a police spokesman, Okasanmi Ajayi, said that more than 100 people had been rescued and that the search was ongoing.
“The boat capsized in complete darkness and it wasn’t until hours later that we were alerted,” Mr. Ajayi said.
The report noted that River boat accidents were a recurring issue in Nigeria, a West African nation where overloading, lax safety regulations, the absence of life jackets and poor maintenance often lead to deadly incidents.
Although Nighttime sailing was outlawed across the country, the report said the ban remained poorly enforced.
Read Also: Everybody is saying I should have been out there but no one did anything to push me -Efya
UPDATE
In a latest development, the lindaikejisblog also reported that the Kwara State Police Command confirmed the death of the 106 wedding guests in a boat mishap around the River Niger axis in Patigi Local Government Area of the state on June 12, 2023.
A statement released by the spokesperson of the command, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, today June 14, says investigation shows that the boat was said to have conveyed about 250 people from a village called Gboti via Patigi after a wedding ceremony to Ebu Village and Dzakan Village, all within Patigi’s local government area.
The Police stated that,”On leaving the shore, one part of the boat by the engine side collapsed where water penetrated the boat, which ultimately led to the boat capsizing. All efforts to draw the attention of the villagers hosting the wedding ceremony for assistance by the persons in the boat proved abortive, leading to the deaths of about one hundred and six (106) people.”
It added that,”Among the casualties were people from Ebu Village with 61 casualties, Dzakan Village with 38, Kpada Village with 4 dead, and three (3) other casualties from Kogi State, putting the total number of casualties at one hundred and six (106) and the total number of rescued people at about one hundred and forty-four (144).”he said
Meanwhile, it shared in the grief of the families of dead victims and prayed that the souls of the departed rest in peace.
He further directed that the policemen on the rescue operation continue in the effort while providing security for the rescued victims of the accident until they are fully recovered from the shock and trauma of the accident and handed over to their families.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com