No fewer than 15 people drowned when an overcrowded canoe capsized at Gwaskaram village, in Bauchi State.
This was confirmed by the Permanent Secretary, Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Shehu Ningi.
Ningi disclosed this in an interview with newsmen, in Bauchi, on Thursday.
According to him, the canoe was carrying passengers from Gwaskaram village area heading to the next village, Yola Doka, on a market day when the incident occurred.
He said, “The accident happened over the weekend on the Gwaskaram river in Bauchi local government area of the state.
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“15 people have been confirmed dead while three persons have been rescued.
” It is possible the canoe capsized due to overload, lack of maintenance, and a hole that allowed water to weigh it down.”
“The canoe had more than 21 people on board, and it was carrying too many goods,” he added.
He also said that rescue operation was still ongoing and efforts were being made to recover the remaining bodies, NAN reports.