Kwara Boat Accident Claims 106 Lives, with 144 Individuals Rescued, According to Police
According to the Kwara State Police Command, a total of 144 individuals have been successfully rescued from the boat accident that occurred on Monday in the Patigi local government area of Kwara State. Tragically, the police have confirmed the death toll to be 106.
In a statement released on Wednesday, signed by SP Ajayi Okasanmi, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), the police provided details regarding the boat incident that occurred between Ebu and Dzakan villages in the Patigi local government area. The ill-fated boat was carrying approximately 250 passengers, resulting in the tragic loss of 106 lives.
The casualties included 61 individuals from Ebu Village, 38 from Dzakan Village, and 4 from Kpada Village. Additionally, there were three casualties from Kogi State. The total number of fatalities reached 106, while approximately 144 people were successfully rescued.
Upon receiving information about the boat accident, the Commissioner of Police Kwara State, CP Paul Odama psc+, promptly dispatched a team of policemen to join local authorities and residents who were already en route to locate the precise location of the incident and provide assistance in the rescue operations.
The boat reportedly transported approximately 250 individuals from Gboti village, passing through Patigi after a wedding ceremony, to Ebu Village and Dzakan Village, both situated within the local government area of Patigi.
As the boat departed from the shore, a section near the engine side collapsed, allowing water to enter and causing the boat to capsize. Despite efforts to seek assistance from the villagers hosting the wedding ceremony, the occupants of the boat were unable to attract their attention, resulting in the tragic loss of approximately 106 lives.
The Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) Chairman of Patigi Local Government area, Alhaji Ibrahim Liman, suggested that the accident may have been caused by water leakage into the boat. The influx of water affected the boat's movement, leading to its capsizing.
Liman further explained that all the survivors of the accident managed to swim to the river bank on their own. He added, "All the individuals who survived the incident possessed swimming skills and were able to reach the river bank independently."
In the meantime, Mallam Abubakar Yelwa, the Managing Director of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), attributed the high number of fatalities in the accident to the failure of passengers to utilize life jackets.
Speaking at a program organized by the Commission in Ilorin on Wednesday, Yelwa highlighted that the Commission had invested billions of naira in procuring life jackets for the residents in the HYPPADEC-covered region.
"The significant loss of life in the boat accident that occurred early Monday morning in the Patigi local government area of Kwara State can be attributed to the negative attitude of the local populace towards using life jackets when traveling by water," Yelwa stated.
Expressing his concern over the lack of enthusiasm for using life jackets among the populace, the HYPPADEC director emphasized the need for the state House of Assembly to pass legislation mandating the compulsory use of life jackets by residents in riverine communities and boat operators whenever they embark on water journeys.
According to the HYPPADEC director, in the event of an accident, life jackets can enable individuals to float on water for approximately seven hours. He further noted that the commission had distributed these life-saving devices to the community last year.
The director also emphasized the importance of enacting legislation to enforce the compulsory use of life jackets for boat passengers. Additionally, he suggested implementing regulations to restrict nighttime travel on water, as he believed that more lives could have been saved if the accident had occurred during daylight hours.
He stated, "If the victims had been wearing life jackets, the number of fatalities would have been significantly reduced. A life jacket can keep a person afloat for at least seven hours, allowing nearby villagers ample time to provide assistance. I urge the relevant authorities to pass a law mandating the use of life jackets by boat passengers and prohibiting nighttime operations. If the victims had been wearing life jackets and the accident had happened during the day, the fatality rate would have been much lower."
In a separate development, the Kwara State House of Assembly has urged the state government to establish a collaborative partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to prevent disasters in the state.
This decision was reached during the House session while discussing a Matter of General Importance raised by Hon. Saba Gideon, the representative of Edu Constituency. The matter addressed the recent boat accident that occurred along Egboti in Niger State and Kpada in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.
During the session, Hon. Gideon attributed the incident to the negligence of the Federal Inland Water Ways in ensuring the safety of the nation's water routes.
In their individual remarks, other members of the assembly expressed their condolences to the state government and the bereaved families affected by the tragic incident.
Presenting the resolutions of the House, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu-Danladi, urged the Ministry of Works and Transport to establish a strong collaboration with the National Inland Waterways Authority. This collaboration is essential for devising long-term solutions to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
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