About 10 rice farmers were killed, on Tuesday, while 10 others are still missing as a boat carrying about 100 farmers capsized in the Koko/Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
Spokesman for the state’s Police Command, DSP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the incident to newsmen.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday, chairman of Koko/Besse Local Government Area, Yahaya Bello, who also confirmed the incident, said it occurred, on Tuesday night, when a rickety boat carried more than 100 rice farmers to Samanaji, a riverine community in the area.
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He said 80 of the boat passengers had been rescued, while 10 were found dead and others still missing as at press time.
He assured them that rescue operation was still ongoing with a view to saving those still missing.
“Almost all the passengers are youths; small boys and girls. We have found four female and six male corpses.
“We have rescued more than 80 passengers and we are still searching for the missing others.
“Prior to the incident, we had called an emergency meeting with the district head of Dutsin Mari and other traditional rulers and leaders of boat operators in the area.
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“The meeting was to enlighten them and warn them against the use of rickety, old boats, over-loading and travelling in the night,’’ he said.
Bello said LG had distributed 20 new boats in 2022 in an effort to forestall boat mishaps in the area.