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Two dead, many missing in Yobe boat mishaps

September 18, 2022 No Comments

At least two people have been confirmed dead and many others missing when two boats capsized in Jumbam, Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State.

The Director-General Press and Media Affairs in Yobe, Mamman Mohammed, said the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, September 17, when two passenger boats bound for the Babangida weekly market capsized in a flood wave.

Mohammed said the State Governor, Mai Buni, has expressed shock and sorrow over the accident.

“His Excellency the Executive Governor of Yobe state Hon. Mai Mala Buni, has received with deep sorrow the sad and unfortunate news of boat mishaps in Jumbam community of Tarmuwa local government area,” the statement read.

“The sad news reaching the governor indicated that two boats loaded with passengers going to Babangida weekly market, capsized with only two bodies recovered.

“Governor Buni has directed for an intensive search mission with the hope to rescue the victims or their bodies.”

Buni described the accident as sad, unfortunate, devastating, and prayed for safe rescue of the victims.”

He advised travellers on the roads, streams and rivers as well as, residents along water banks to always be cautious.

“The heavy rains and floods usually come from far and unannounced, we should always be on the watch out and avoid dangerous ways,” the statement added.

The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has disclosed that about 350 persons lost their lives to boat mishaps in Nigeria, in the year 2020.

Specifically, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Commission, Joseph Ityav, said most of the mishaps were caused by the poor conditions of boats, overloading, unavailability of life jackets, and the bulk of tree logs on the waterways.

Ityav disclosed this at the flag-off of the cutting of tree logs and removal of huge debris on Kainji and Shiroro Lakes on Saturday in Borgu, Niger State.

According to him, the project would be executed in partnership with the National Inland Waterways Corporation, noting that the cutting of tree logs and removal of debris from the waterways would reduce boat mishaps and the hardship faced by riverine communities.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, HYPPADEC, Abubakar Yelwa, said the Commission would address ecological and environmental issues and loss of lives, caused by the construction of the Kainji and Shiroro Dams.

Also, the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Abdullahi Sabi, who was at the ceremony, said the projects by HYPPADEC would help to address challenges faced by communities in the hydro-power generating areas.

Sabi, who represented the Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Sen. Gabriel Suswan, said the National Assembly would continue to support HYPPADEC to achieve its objectives.

The Kainji Dam was constructed on River Niger in 1964 for $209 million and was inaugurated in 1968, while the Shiroro Dam was constructed on the River Niger, in Kaduna State, southwest of Abuja in 1983.