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By El-Yakub Dabai, Birnin Kebbi
Two seven year old children and two middle aged women have lost their lives when a boat conveying traders in River Niger from Yauri town of Kebbi State to Agwara in Niger State hit a rock and capsized.
Confirming the incident to newsmen Yauri Local Government Chairman, Abubakar Shehu, said the victims met their death when they fell into the river and were unable to swim and were unlucky to be saved by the rescue team.
“When we got the news of the mishap we mobilized divers and marine police who immediately swung into action and saved almost all the traders on board the canoe except the unfortunate four who lost their lives,” he explained.
The Chairman further stated that: “When the rescue operations ended on Wednesday, the corpses of the missing four were recovered while floating on the waters on Thursday and deposited in the mortuary at General Hospital Yauri for claims by their relations.”
While speaking on the nature of journey Shehu ruled out overloading and the worthiness of the canoe, pointing out that the level of the waters had gone down as such canoes were bound to hit rocks, tree trunks or any wreckage in the course of their journey.
The Chairman said government was assessing the volume of the property lost in the mishap besides the assistance to be provided to the families of the deceased, stressing that all the outcome would be forwarded to the State Government for proper care besides the little the Local Government could afford.
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