Boat Mishap Claims 27 Lives in Kwara

A devastating boat accident has claimed the lives of 27 passengers in Kwara State, leaving the community in shock and mourning.

The incident occurred on a fateful night, just seven months after a similar tragedy in the same state, which resulted in the loss of over 100 lives.

The boat was overloaded with passengers, exceeding its capacity by nearly three times. The boat, designed to carry 100 passengers, was often packed with nearly 300 passengers during both dry and rainy seasons.

The accident occurred while the passengers were returning from a market trip in Niger State. The mishap caused by the combination of overloading and the heavy storm that was brewing at the time.

The Chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Abdullah Danladi, confirmed the incident and led a government delegation to commiserate with the families of the victims. Danladi expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and warned that the government would no longer tolerate the nearly yearly occurrence of such tragedies.

“We cannot continue to lose our people to these avoidable accidents,” Danladi said. “We will set up a committee to enforce strict compliance with life jacket usage and ban night travel on local boats. We will also work with the relevant authorities to ensure that boat operators adhere to safety standards and regulations.”

The Emir of Kaiama, His Royal Highness Muazu Umar, also pledged to intensify enlightenment campaigns to ensure passengers and boat operators adhere to water travel safety standards. “We will work tirelessly to educate our people on the importance of safety while traveling on water,” the Emir said. “We cannot afford to lose any more lives to these preventable accidents.”

The incident has sparked calls for improved safety measures on the state’s waterways. Many residents are demanding that the government take more stringent measures to regulate boat operations and ensure that safety standards are met.