Death Toll From Kwara Boat Disaster Rises To Between 103 And 110

Death toll from the boat disaster in Kwara State has continued to rise.

Strong waves overwhelmed the boat, and smashed it against a tree

The passengers were returning from a mariage ceremony in a neighbouring egboti village in niger state, when the accident occurred.

Police, late on tuesday, put the latest number of deaths from the capsized boat in river niger, at 103

But chairman of the transition implementation committee ofpategi local government area, mohammed liman said 110 persons had so far been confirmed dead.

Spokesman of the state police command, Ajayi Okesanmi said the illfated boat was conveying 217 wedding guests when it crashed.

So far, fifty bodies had been recovered from the river, while search for survivours continues.

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The state governor, in a statement by his chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaiye, condoled the families of the victims of the boat accident.

He said most of the victims were from Ebu, Dzakan, Kpada, and kuchali.

Local daily Nigerian Tribune reported that the passengers were from Kpada, Egbu and Gakpan villages in Kwara.

“What we hear from various sources in that area is that at least 64 people came from one village and about 40 from another village,”

said Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris, reporting from the capital, Abuja.

He added that funerals had already been held “for at least 60 people who were killed in the accident”.

“What we know so far is that most of the passengers were not wearing any protective gear like life vests,” Idris said, adding that rescue operations were under way.

There have been similar mishaps in the past in the area, which is close to the confluence between the rivers Niger and Benue, two of Africa’s longest.

In May 2021, a boat sank on the Niger around the same area, according to another local daily, The Guardian. As many as 160 people died in that accident.