By Salim Yunusa
Dozens of people are feared dead after a boat they were traveling in capsized in a river in Kebbi State.
The incident took place on Wednesday around 10 a.m., and reports from the area say efforts are still being made to rescue the victims.
The boat was traveling from Lokon Minna in Niger State to Wara town in Kebbi State carrying more than 160 people including men, women and children.
But it split into two, drowning the people in it near the town of Wara. It is said that the boat, which has a capacity of 65 – 80 people, was carrying 160 people.
SAHELIAN TIMES monitored the report from BBC Hausa which said that in addition to carrying above the required number of people, it was also carrying sacks of sand mined from the gold mine.
The chairman of Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Abdullahi Buhari Warah, who visited the scene to monitor the rescue operation, said it was a tragedy.
“In fact we went to the main river in Wara town where there were people crying when they came out of the water. There were more than 160 people on board. Only one corpse was recovered, of a little girl.
“Someone who came out of the boat said there was no rescue and there were many small children who drowned at sea because there was no one to rescue them.
“22 people have so far been rescued and they have been taken to the hospital for immediate medical attention
“Someone from Zamfara State told me that there were eight members of the same family and they all drowned.
It was reported that some passengers removed the life jacket due to the heat and gave others.
The chairman said they have sent out seven boats for a rescue mission and hope that they will rescue more people before the day ended.
