On the Taraba section of the River Benue, at least twenty people—reportedly fishermen—perished yesterday when the boat carrying them capsized near Anyiin.
The event occurred between the Anyeci neighbourhood of Wukari Local Government Area in Taraba State and Chinkai, Benue, according to Taraba State Water Transportation Chairman Alhaji Jidda Suleiman, who spoke to reporters.
This occurred just a few weeks after a comparable catastrophe on the same section of the river killed over 70 people, largely those who were returning from the Mayoreno fish market.
“The boat was conveying fishermen, comprising people from Ibi, and Wukari local government areas of Taraba State. I was informed that the fishermen converged and boarded the boat to Kwara State in search of greener pasture, and, along the way, they had an accident and over 20 people died. Twelve people out of the dead bodies are from Ibi, while some are from Gareji, in Gindin Doruwa, Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.
“It has been a tradition of our fishermen from Taraba State that, once it’s December, some will travel to Cameroon, some to Chad and other places like that to fish till August of the following year. Unfortunately, the usual tradition turned sorrowful this time. I wish to appeal to both the state and federal governments to assist us with life jackets, which is the only solution to averting similar incidents,” Jidda appealed.
In the meantime, Dr. Agbu Kefas, the governor of Taraba State, has expressed his sympathies to the families of those killed in Monday’s boat accident in the state’s Ibi local government area.
Governor Kefas described the incident as extremely concerning in a statement released yesterday. The statement was signed by Mr. Emmanuel Bello, Special Advisor to Governor Kefas on Media and Digital Communication. The governor noted that the incident occurred just one week after a similar incident in the state’s Karim-Lamido local area claimed over 70 lives.
Praying for the spirits of the dead to rest in peace, Governor Kefas said that the state government was already devising plans to prevent boat accidents in the future.
“Today’s boat incident is even more unfortunate since it is coming on the heels of a similar one in Karim Lamido that threw the state into mourning. It is heartbroken, however, I wish to appeal that the government is already on top of the situation as various investigations are underway to unravel the remote causes of boat mishaps in the state.
“I would soon personally tour the affected areas to meet with local stakeholders in the waterways transport sectors to ensure that the water transport system is safe for passengers. Measures are in place to face out old boats and introduce the compulsory use of life jackets among other life-saving measures,” he said.
Source: The Sun
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