National Inland Waterways Authority confirms 8 deaths, 38 survivors, 4 missing in Anambra boat mishap

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BY SUNNY A. DAVID, AWKA

Following the Sunday’s boat mishap on River Niger, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) confirmed that 8 passengers died on the incident that occurred at Umumu Anam in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The agency also said 38 persons were rescued, adding that 50 passengers were on board the ill-fated boat.

Flowing from the NIWA’s figures of 8 deaths and 38 survivors, it means that four persons were still missing or could not be a counted four.

In a statement sign by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, NIWA, Mr. Jibril Darda’u, the incident which occurred on the morning hours of Sunday involved a passenger boat traveling from Ida in Kogi State to Onitsha in Anambra State.

The statement noted that preliminary reports indicated that the wooden engine boat rammed into a snag on the water channel and capsized with about 50 passengers.

NIWA explained that upon receipt of the sad report, relevant personnel from Marine Department were deployed for rescue, recovery and proper investigation.

The Authority commiserated with families and friends of the deceased while assuring the public that it was doing everything possible to ensure safer Inland Waterways for the movement of people and goods across the country.

The NIWA statement read in parts: “The sad report of a boat mishap at Umumu Anam, Anambra West Local Government Area, Anambra State, betwen Thursday the 4th and Friday the 5th of January,  2024 at about 7am, is noted with regrets.”

“The Authority is aware that the sad incident involved a passenger boat travelling from Idah in Kogi state to Onitsha in Anambra state.

“Upon the receipt of the sad report, relevant personnel from the marine department were deployed for rescue, recovery, and proper investigation.

“Preliminary  reports indicated that the wooden engine boat rammed into a snag on the water channel and capsized with about 50 passengers on board. From the records, 8 persons were confirmed dead at the scene, while 38 others were rescued immediately.

“The recovery efforts are ongoing and the Authority will provide detailed information to the public as soon as the field officers report back to the headquarters.

“NIWA sincerely, commiserates with the families and friends of the deceased and prayed to God to rest their souls.

“In the meantime, we want to reassure the general public that NIWA is doing everything possible to ensure safer inland waterways for the movement of people and goods across our inland waterways,” the statement stressed.