76 bodies recovered in Kebbi boat mishap — Council chair
By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna
Abdullahi Buhari Warra chairman, Ngaski Local Government Council of Kebbi State, said: “So far 76 bodies have been recovered and buried, 25 passengers have been rescued, while recovery operation around the wreckage of the boat carrying over 100 passengers continues,” the chairman stated while briefing Kebbi State Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu during an on the spot visit to Warra on Friday.
The Governor chided the community for the overload of boats. He also announced N100,000 palliative to each of the family of those who lost their loved ones and to each of those who survived the accident.
Qasimu Umar Warra, who lost his brother in the accident, said those who survived said the boat was carrying about 165 passengers made up of mainly women and children, sacks of sand and motorcycles.
“87 bodies including that of my brother has so far been recovered as at this evening.
“We are calling on the authorities to deploy the use of live jackets provided by the Senator representing Kebbi South, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah.
“If those live jackets were put to use by the passengers whom it was meant for, the death toll will have been less.
“But those people responsible for the live jackets simply converted them to their personal use. That’s not fair,” he exclaimed.
