Boat mishap
By DANJUMA JOSEPH, Lafia –
Alogani Community in Lafia East Development Area of Nasarawa State, has been thrown into mourning mood following the death of four persons as a result of boat mishap at the community’s river.
The ugly incident happened on Tuesday, when they were crossing to another neighboring community on the Lafia-Shendam road called Ashangwa, for market day.
Our correspondent gathered that the capsized boat was overloaded with 25 passengers, 8 motorcycles and 4 bags of mellon (Egusi), when the worse happened leading to the death of four, among whom were 3 males and a female.
An eyewitness told our correspondent that out of the 25 persons, 19 were rescued alive, 4 dead bodies were recovered, while 2 others, eight motorcycles and the 4 bags of mellon are still at large, as at the time of filling this report.
A resident of the community, Abdulhamid Sale, who confirmed the incident described the tragedy as disheartening and regrettable, considering the terrain with boats as the only means of transportation, calling on relevant authorities to come to their aid.
Overseer of Lafia East Development Area, Barrister Haruna Muhammed, who confirmed the ugly incident, said the authorities are aware of the tragedy and investigation to ascertain it immediate cause is ongoing as he sympathised with the community and the families of the victims.
He said efforts are ongoing by the community and the authority, saying they have employed the services of some divers and experienced fishermen to recover the remaining bodies and property.
Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA), has passed into second reading a bill for a law to establish Nasarawa State Inland Waterways Regulation Agency, to regulate the carriage of persons and goods across all waterways within Nasarawa State sponsored by Larry Ven Bawa, member representing Akwanga South.
While presenting some of the ingredients attached to the bill, Ven Bawa, said that if the bill was passed into law, it will boost the socio-economic strength of the state by regulating the activities in the riverine communities as well as provide job opportunities for the teeming youths in the state and curb the trend of boat mishaps.
