By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
DETAILS have emerged on how no fewer than 103 lives, including a father and his four children, perished as their boat capsized while returning from a wedding ceremony.
The tragic incident occurred at Egbu village in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria.
The paramount ruler of the area, Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bologi II, did confirm the incident.
The spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, SP Ajayi Okasanmi, who provided an update on the boat accident, also confirmed the death toll of 103 persons.
The names of survivors will be made public once they are available, Okasanmi, announced, in an incident that has plunged the entire local government area into mourning with 50 bodies of passengers already recovered as of Tuesday.
Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim Liman, the Transition Implementation Committee Chairman of Patigi LGA, stated that the accident claimed the lives of no fewer than 110 passengers.
Alhassan Bala Mohammed, a community leader in the area, reported that about 270 people were on board the ill-fated boat.
He said from their records, 61 villagers from Ebu, 38 from Gakpan, four from Kpada, two from Kuchalu, and one from Sampi lost their lives in the incident.
The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Mai-Martaba Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, expressed his deep sorrow over the unfortunate and disheartening boat accident.
He conveyed the condolences of the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council to Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim Bologi II, the government, and the people of the state.
The Emir prayed for comfort and strength for the families of the victims while the difficult time lasts.
Stonix News, however, gathered that the boat accident occurred on Monday June 12, Democracy Day, while the victims were returning from a wedding ceremony in Egboti village, Niger State.
It was gathered that the boat was overloaded with passengers, and it capsized during the return trip.
A river wave was said to have taken control of the boat, causing it to collide with a tree and flung many of the passengers, many of whom had no life jacket on, into the river.
Speaking on the tragedy, Governor Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, in his condolences to the relatives of the victims, described the incident as a deeply tragic event that has left an indelible mark on the history of the affected village and its neighboring communities.
