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A tragic boat accident on the River Niger has left many feared dead, with several victims reportedly still trapped beneath the water, and others unaccounted for.
The heartbreaking incident took place on Tuesday around 4:30 pm in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State.
According to Vanguard, citing an eyewitness, James Otoga, the boat, which was packed with passengers, had left Onugwa community heading to Ilushi market when it capsized midway.
He recalled the horror, saying, Only five people have survived so far, and 20 bodies have been recovered. Many more are still believed to be trapped under the river, Otoga added.
Otoga also revealed that the tragedy claimed the lives of mourners who had attended a burial in Onugwa and were on their way back to Ilushi.
Even those returning from the burial in Onugwa are still reported missing. The exact number of passengers and survivors has not yet been confirmed.
The Chairman of Ibaji Local Government Area, Ugeh Emmanuel, described the disaster as the most devastating in the council’s history.
In a phone conversation with journalists, he said the full extent of the casualties is still unknown.
He explained, Nobody can yet say for sure how many lives were lost or how many people were on the boat from the start.
The boat had not even reached Ilushi when the accident occurred around 4:30 pm. Most of the victims were traveling to Ilushi for the First of October celebration, a long-standing tradition in the community, before their lives were tragically cut short.
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