Adamawa boat mishap death toll rises to 8, 8 more rescued, 7 missing – State Govt

From Umar Dankano Yola

The Adamawa state government has given an update on the Friday evening boat mishap confirming recovery of 8 more bodies, rescuing 8 victims alive while declaring the remaining 7 still missing.
The accident involved 23 persons including women and children who were being ferried across the river banks of Rugange and Dandu communities before capsizing, living the occupants struggling for safety
Governor Fintiri has visited the scene of the accident to sympathize with the victims’ relatives who are still in shock of the unfortunate incident.
Represented by the Deputy governor Kaletapwa Farauta in company of other government officials to the affected communities, Fintiri sympathized with the family of those involved in the boat mishap.
Fintiri reiterated that such devastating experience including the loss of lives and property have remained a matter of serious concern to both the communities and government.
He called on those living along the river banks and are using canoes as means of transportation to always apply some basic safety measures such as avoid overloading, even as a directive was issued to ADSEMA to work towards immediate provision of life jackets to reduce the loss of lives in case of such eventuality.
Recall that the Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr Aminu Suleiman Muhammad had earlier explained that the boat accident happened on Friday when villagers including children were being transported around Rugange village along River Benue then suddenly it capsized in the middle of the river creating tension and apprehension among passengers.
Faisal Dabo, a relative to the victims said that the tragic episode must likely have been caused by overflow as a result of large volume of water at that very moment calling on government to provide marine boats and live saving jakets for the people using river as a means of transportation.