One hundred and three people have been confirmed dead in a tragic boat accident by the Police Command in Kwara State.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the incident occurred at Egbu village, located in the Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara.
The spokesperson for the Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the incident, offering details of the catastrophe.
According to the release, the ill-fated boat, carrying passengers from Egboti in Niger State to Kpada in the Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara, capsized on Monday night. Numerous lives were lost, and several individuals are still missing.
This newspaper learnt that the deceased individuals tragically met their end while returning from a joyous marriage ceremony.
Mr. Okasanmi announced that the names of the survivors would be made public in due course.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Liman, the Chairman of the Transition Implementation Committee in Patigi, released a statement quoting community leader Bala Mohammed, who estimated that 110 passengers perished in the boat mishap. Speaking about the calamity that befell his people and neighbouring villages, Mohammed revealed, “About 110 people died in the boat mishap in our area. Our village people went to a wedding ceremony in another village called Gboti, and the boat carried about 270 people, with almost 110 lives lost.”
He further described the tragedy as an indelible memory etched into the history of their village, underscoring the profound impact it would have on their collective consciousness.
Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, the Speaker of the Kwara House of Assembly, expressed heartfelt sympathy for the Etsu Patigi, Ibrahim Umar Bologi II, and the entire community of Patigi in the wake of Monday’s devastating boat mishap.
In an official statement issued on Wednesday, the Speaker conveyed his condolences to the grieving families of the deceased and extended support to those still missing. He fervently prayed for the departed souls to find eternal peace and for their families to find strength in the face of such immense loss.
“Our hearts go out to the people of Patigi, particularly those in Ebu, Dzakan, Kpada, Kuchalu, and Sampi, who have suffered immensely from the boat mishap, claiming dozens of lives and leaving others unaccounted for,” expressed Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu. He also offered his sympathies to Etsu Patigi, emphasising that they were in the thoughts and prayers of the entire community during this trying time.
