Seven of the passengers onboard, however, escaped death by the whiskers as the corpses of the deceased were recovered and buried immediately.
Malam Danburan, an Assistant Secretary at the emirate, said in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday that the unfortunate accident occurred on Monday between 5 and 6pm. “The boat was conveying passengers, who were mostly locals, from Garafini Kodo to Garafini when the accident happened,” he maintained.
The seven survivors were said to have swam into safety, leaving 11 dead.
It will be recalled that the recent mishap brought to four of such incidents in Niger State in the last one year.
Meanwhile, the state governor, Dr Babangida Aliyu, has condoled with the Borgu emirate and the entire people of Borgu Local Government Council of the state over Monday’s tragic death of 11 persons in a boat accident in the area. The governor, who also condoled with the entire people of the state over the tragic incident, made his position known in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Israel A. Ebije.
The governor, while commiserating with the people over the incident, described it as unfortunate, pledging that government would investigate the remote cause of the disaster and continue to work towards checking rising cases of boat mishaps within communities in coastal parts of the state.
The statement further urged inhabitants of communities in riverine settlements to avoid travelling in overcrowded boats and ensure they adhere strictly to safety measures.
Alhaji Mohammed Shaba, Special Adviser to Governor Aliyu on Disaster Management Agency, confirmed to journalists that the ill fated canoe climbed a short tree covered by water and broke up.
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