From Umar Dankano,Yola.
The Adamawa state Emergency Management Agency has confirmed a boat misharp involving 23 people on board in Njuwa lake around Rugange village in Yola South Local Government Area.
Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr Aminu Suleiman Muhammad, made the confirmation to Weekemd Peoples Daily in Yola Friday through a mobile phone interview. He noted that six people have been rescued while 15 are missing as 1 lost his life in the tragedy as at the time of filing this report.
Dr.Muhammad explained that the boat accident happened yesterday (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.
An eye witness identified as Faisal Dabo Rugange who spoke to journalists through a Telephone interview said the sad incident happened Friday when the victims are crossing to main Yola town for their routine local businesses where heavy windstorm blew waters into the boat and capsized instantly.
Dabo said out the passengers on boardonly six were rescued by local divers and a bigger boat which arrived at the scene.
Dabo who attributed the ugly incidence to have been caused as a result of the perennial suffering by Rugange community due to overflow by large volume of water along river Benue urging the government to provide the people with bigger engine boats.
However the Executive Secretary assured that the search for the remaining 15 missing persons will continue tomorrow (Saturday) by 10 am by the professional local divers.
He also confirmed that last Monday another cannoe capsized while conveying market men and women from Mayobelwa town to Mayo inne village killing two passengers.
