19 dead in Kwara boat mishap

No fewer than 19 persons, mostly children were on Saturday feared dead in a boat mishap in Lafiagi, Edu local government area of Kwara state.
But the state police command said it is yet to ascertain the number of the deaths.
The boat was said to be conveying the victims across River Niger.
The victims were said the to be going for a traditional wedding in a community in Niger.

About 22 persons were said to be on board the unfortunate boat.
A source said that while two of the passengers were rescued, the 19 others drowned and died.
The source said that all efforts to rescue other passengers were unsuccessful.
“As at yesterday evening, four corpses have been recovered from the river.”

Said the source: “Efforts to recover the bodies of the death would resume yesterday morning again to ensure that others also are found.
“Both men of the Nigeria Police and the state Fire Service were there yesterday in the rescue mission.
“Unfortunately only two of them survived,” the source told journalists on Sunday.
Secretary to the Lafiagi Traditional Council, Alhaji Sulyman Aliyu also confirmed the incident.

Aliyu said that the number of the victims could not be ascertained yet, noting that there was a conflict in the number.
“Definitely they are up to 12. The figure is between 12 and 19 that you said ” he said.
The secretary also confirmed that four corpses were recovered on Saturday and that efforts to remove others would continue on Sunday.
The Public Relations Officer of the Kwara Police Command, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi, also confirmed the incident.

Spokesman of the Kwara state police command Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the incident but could not ascertain the number of casualties.
He said the capsized boat was ferrying passengers from Lafiagi, Edu local government area of the state to Niger state.
“The command had since yesterday deployed detachment of officers and men to the scene of the accident,” he added.