The Kogi State Government has launched an investigation into the causes of the death of five of its citizens whose car plunged into a canal in the state on Friday.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, made this known in a statement issued in Lokoja on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that five Kogi citizens got drowned on Friday when the car in which they were travelling plunged into the canal of Omi Dam along River Niger in the Yagba West Local Government Area of the state.
Only one of the five occupants of the car escaped death as he reportedly swam to safety, aided by a good Samaritan, a fisherman, who unfortunately got drowned.
Among the dead were three ladies and two men, including the fisherman.
Fanwo said the state government received the sad news of the death of the deceased with shock and disbelief, hence its resolve to look into the causes of the mishap.
The statement read, “The Kogi State Government under the leadership of Alhaji Yahaya Bello has since launched investigations into the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident.
“We are willing and ready to cooperate with the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority to improve the safety of people working around the canal and passengers travelling along the routes around the canals.
“We cannot afford to lose the lives of our citizens to such avoidable deaths.”
The commissioner added that the state government had already received preliminary reports from the Yagba West Local Government authorities.
“We will communicate our observations and recommendations to the authorities of the LNRBDA to avert future occurrence.
“Our hearts are with the families that lost their loved ones and the people of Yagba West and Yagba East Local Government Areas over the unfortunate and sad accident,” he added.
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