By Dada Ahmed.
Photo credit: Punch.
The Police Command in Kwara State says about 144 passengers of the June 12 boat accident that happened at about 0300 hours River Niger axis of Patigi Local Government Area of the state, survived the tragic event while neighboring Kogi State lost three of its citizens.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Command, SP. Okasanmi Ajayi, disclosed in a statement he signed and a copy made available to The Reporters on Wednesday.
According to him, the boat was conveying 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.
Ajayi said that information at his. disposal indicates 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 death of about106 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).
"The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State, CP Paul Odama psc+, immediately after receiving the information, dispatched a team of policemen to join the policemen and other locals already on their way to locate the exact spot the boat accident happened to join in the rescue efforts.
"He further directed that the policemen on the rescue operation should 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.
Ajayi quoted his boss as sharing in the grief of the families of dead victims and praying that the souls of the departed rest in peace.
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