The President, Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, expressed sadness over the boat accident that claimed the lives of no fewer than 106 wedding guests at Egbu village, in the Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Tinubu, in a statement by the State House Director of Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye, also directed relevant authorities to “unravel the immediate and remote causes” of the accident and to provide immediate relief and assistance to the rescued victims and families of deceased victims.
He said, “I am deeply saddened by the news of the tragic boat accident that claimed the lives of our people in Kwara State. That the victims were guests at a wedding ceremony made the unfortunate accident more painful. My heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families and friends of victims of the tragic mishap.”
While urging the Kwara State Government and relevant Federal Government agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the boat accident, Tinubu said his administration would look into the challenges of inland water transportation in the country to ensure strict adherence to safety and operational standards.
“The Kwara State Government and relevant federal agencies should work together to unravel the immediate and remote causes of this unfortunate accident. Immediate relief and necessary assistance should also be provided to the survivors and families of victims,” the President said.
No fewer than 50 corpses were reportedly rescued by emergency responders including local swimmers, who stormed the scene to commence a search and rescue operation immediately.
Reacting to the development on Tuesday, the Kwara State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Ajayi Okesanmi, said the tragedy claimed 103 lives.
However, in an updated reaction on Wednesday, Okesanmi said 106 persons died in the accident, adding that 144 victims had been rescued as the boat was conveying 250 passengers when it crashed.
He said, “Among the casualties include people from Ebu village with 61 casualties, Dzakan village with 38, Kpada village with four dead, and three other casualties from Kogi State, putting the total number of casualties at 106 and the total number of rescued people at about 144.
“Information was received by the Divisional Police Officer, Patigi Divisional Headquarters, to the effect that a boat accident occurred around the River Niger axis.
“The boat was said to have conveyed about 250 people from a village called Gboti via Patigi after a wedding ceremony to Ebu village and Dzakan village, all within Patigi LGA.”
The Chairman, Transition Implementation Committee, Patigi LGA, Ibrahim Liman, said all the people who survived the accident swam to the bank of the river by themselves.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director, Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, Abubakar Yelwa, said the high rate of deaths recorded in the accident was caused by a lack of life jackets.
“High death rate in the early Monday morning boat accident in the Patigi LGA of Kwara State has been blamed on the negative attitude of people of the area in using life jackets whenever they travel by water,” Yelwa said while speaking at a programme organised by the commission in Ilorin on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Wednesday, led a delegation to Patigi LGA to commiserate with the bereaved families of the victims and promised to deliver at least 1000 life jackets to support safe travels on the water in the area.
AbdulRazaq, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, said, “It is a sad event. We commiserate with our people in Patigi Emirate, including the Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Bologi II.
“We are deeply saddened by the event. Measures will be taken as we are having discussions with the Nigeria Inland Waterway Authority on the enforcement of safety codes.
“We will also be sending a team to Lagos State on how their waterways law works. Our immediate step is to deliver at least 1000 life jackets to support safe travels on the water in the area.”
Also, the Kwara State House of Assembly, in its reaction to the tragedy, charged the state government to collaborate with officials of the National Emergency Management Agency towards averting disasters in the state.
However, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, NIWA, Jibril Darda’u, said the agency would investigate the accident and prosecute those found culpable.
In a statement on Wednesday, Darda’u accused the operator of the ill-fated boat and its passengers of deliberate violation of the laws regulating inland waterways.
He said the agency would not fold its arms and allow reckless boat operators to flaunt NIWA’s safety guidelines thereby killing innocent commuters.
Darda’u said, “The Management of NIWA is deeply saddened by the boat mishap that occurred on June 12, 2023, along the Jebba Lake channel in the Lafiagi-Patigi LGA of Kwara State in which about 103 passengers are feared to have died.
“We condole with the families of those that have lost their loved ones and are particularly concerned with the huge number of casualties. This accident was an unfortunate and avoidable one.
“Preliminary investigations through our Area Manager in Minna/Kwara Area Office revealed that the boat driver and wedding guests were on the ill-fated voyage around 2.30am, which speaks volumes about the disregard for the laws regulating inland waterways navigation.”
Darda’u lamented that for a wooden boat to allegedly carry more than 200 passengers at once without using life jackets and sailing in the night was certainly gross overloading and misconduct.
“While we extend our commiserations to the government and people of Kwara State, we will in line with extant laws and regulations, investigate this callous incident and prosecute those found culpable,” he added.
Also reacting to the tragic development, the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, while describing the accident as unfortunate, urged the government to come up with a holistic safety policy that covers not only the air and roads but also the waterways.
In a statement on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, Diri said, “The boat accident that claimed over 100 lives in Kwara State is really tragic.
“I also commiserate with the families of the victims of the tragedy. The Federal Government, which controls our waterways, needs to put in place a holistic transportation policy that also ensures the safety of passengers on our rivers.”
