The police Command in Kwara State has issued the updated report on the boat tragedy in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State where a total of 144.
SP. Okasanmi Ajayi, the Command’s spokesman said the death toll of a boat has risen to 106, while 144 people had been rescued in the ill-fated boat which conveyed 250 people when the tragedy occurred at about 0300 hours on Monday June 12, 2023.
Wedding guests, three wives of the Chief imam of the Pada village and father and his four children, from neighbouring Egboti village in Niger State.
SP. Ajayi who said this in a statement, said the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State, CP Paul Odama, shares in the grief of the families of victims of the accident and prayed that the souls of the departed rest in peace.
He directed that the policemen on the rescue operation should continue in the effort while providing security for the rescued victims of the accident until they are fully recovered from the shock and trauma of the accident and handed over to their families.
The statement partly read, “The boat was said to have conveyed about 250 people from a village called Gboti via Patigi after a wedding ceremony to Ebu Village and Dzakan Village, all within Patigi’s Local government Area.
“On leaving the shore, one part of the boat by the engine side collapsed where water penetrated the boat, which ultimately led to the boat capsizing.
“All efforts to draw the attention of the villagers hosting the wedding ceremony for assistance by the persons in the boat proved abortive, leading to the deaths of about one hundred and six (106) people.
“Among the casualties were people from Ebu Village with 61 casualties, Dzakan Village with 38, Kpada Village with 4 dead, and three (3) other casualties from Kogi State, putting the total number of casualties at one hundred and six (106) and the total number of rescued people at about one hundred and forty-four (144)”, according to the police spokesman.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has commiserated with the government and people of kwara State as well as family victims of the boat mishap in Patigi Local government Area.
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