Boat mishap kills 17 persons in Adamawa

By Peters Monday, Abuja

No fewer than seventeen persons have died in a boat mishap in Adamawa state during the week.

It was gathered that a local boat containing 23 persons capsized in Njuwa Lake across Rugange village in Yola South Local Government Area.

Eye witness, Faisal Dabo Rugange, narrated that the incident occurred earlier morning of Friday when the victims were going to Yola town for their local businesses.

“It was raining when the accident happened. A heavy windstorm blew water into the boat and it capsized instantly,” Faisal noted.

According to him, the local boat was carrying more than 20 passengers, only six were rescued by local divers and a bigger boat which arrived at the scene.

The witness who lamented over perennial suffering by the Rugange community as a result of overflow by large volumes of water along the River Benue, said the people need bigger engine boats.

Commenting, the Executive Secretary, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, Mohamed Suleiman, added one person died, five were rescued and 17 others were yet to be seen.

The Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, noted that the command had deployed Marine police officers to help in the rescue operation.

He said that the actual number of those on board had not been ascertained as the rescue operation was still on.