No fewer than 103 people, including a father and his four children, who were returning from a marriage ceremony on Monday lost their lives in a boat accident at Egbu village, in the Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State when the boat that was transporting them capsized.
SP Ajayi Okasanmi, the spokesperson of the command in a statement today June 14, says the 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.
He said, ‘’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.
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).”
Ajayi added that the state Commissioner of Police, shares in the grief of the families of dead victims and prays that the souls of the departed rest in peace.
He also ordered 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.
ALSO, READ
Just In: Nigeria Grants Licences For new Oil Export Terminals
