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Tag: Boat

  • Boat carrying 200 passengers capsizes in Niger State, many feared killed

    Boat carrying 200 passengers capsizes in Niger State, many feared killed

    A boat carying over 200 passengers capsized early Friday morning along the Dambo-Ebuchi stretch of River Niger in Niger State, resulting in several fatalities.

    Eyewitnesses reported that the vessel, owned by one Musa Dangana, was en route to the Katcha weekly market, transporting a mix of market women, farm laborers, and other passengers.

    The boat overturned, throwing everyone on board into the river.

    As of the latest updates, local rescue teams have recovered eight bodies, with ongoing search efforts aimed at finding the remaining missing individuals.

    This incident follows a similar tragedy just two months ago on October 1, when another boat capsized on the Muwo Gbajibo River in the Mokwa Local Government Area, also claiming numerous lives.

    Reports suggest that none of the passengers were wearing life jackets, which may have contributed to the severity of the tragedy.

    Authorities have yet to release an official statement, but investigations into the cause of the capsizing are expected to begin soon.

    Rescue operations continue, and local authorities are urging increased safety measures to prevent future accidents on the river.

  • Boats collide, passenger dies in Bagadry

    Boats collide, passenger dies in Bagadry

     A boat mishap at a jetty in a Badagry community in Lagos State has led to the death of a 32-year-old man.

    The mishap, according to sources, occurred at the jetty on Thursday night when two boats, one coming from Badagry and another coming from Lagos, collided.

    Mr Victor Idowu, a resident of the community, told said on Friday in Badagry that the incident occurred at 10:05p.m, at a jetty in Akarakumo.

    “The sound and voice of the boatmen woke up the residents of the community who came out to see what had happened.

    “One of the passengers was crushed by the boat and fell inside the water, the residents and the boat man assisted to bring him out of the water.

    “We brought him out of the lagoon and discovered that he had been injured in the chest.

    “While some suggested that he should be taken to private hospitals, I told them General Hospital should be the best,” he said.

    Idowu claimed that when they got to the hospital there was no doctor to attend the victim.

    He said that the victim was given first aid treatment and was in pain until 4.10a.m when they took him away for X-ray.

    “Coming back from the x-ray, he gave up the ghost immediately,” he said.

    However, Dr Olatunde Bakare, Medical Director, General Hospital, Badagry, told NAN that the man was brought into the hospital in the middle of the night with serious chest injury.

    “His two ribs had been broken. We wanted to refer him to another hospital in Lagos because we could not handle his case.

    “But we realised that if we sent him to Lagos then, he might not get to half of the way before he will die.

    “So, we had to stabilize him; so, this morning, they had done X-ray for him.

    “When he was coming out, he died due to the seriousness of the injury,” he said.

    Bakare said the man was properly attended to by the staff of the hospital but his injury was fatal, which resulted to his death.

    The Head of Operations, Lagos State Waterways Authority, Mr Ibrahim Famuyiwa, told NAN that one of their stakeholders in Badagry had reported the incident to him.

    He said he was waiting to get the other side of the story from their staff working in the area in order to harmonise it.

    NAN

  • Five feared dead, six rescued in Kano boat mishap

    Five feared dead, six rescued in Kano boat mishap

    A boat mishap, on Tuesday evening, in Bagwai Local Government Area of Kano State has left no fewer than five passengers dead while six others were rescued.

    It was gathered that the incident happened at the Bagwai dam around 5 pm when the persons boarded the boat with an engine from Badau village to Bagwai town and in the process capsized.

    The Information Officer, Tasiu Jibo Dawanau confirmed the sad development to newsmen.

    Dawanau said the team of local swimmers, firemen, NSCDC, police and the Local government Chairman were currently on a search and rescue mission at the dam.

    According to him, “As of now, we are yet to ascertain how many persons were involved.

    “The local swimmers, fire service, NSCDC, police and Local government Chairman were currently at the riverside on search and rescue mission.

    “So far, six persons were rescued and five persons lost their lives. The corpses have been evacuated to the Bagiwa General hospital.

    “Searching is ongoing but by tomorrow, we should be able to ascertain the figure of casualties involved in the mishap,” Dawanau however said.

    Meanwhile, unconfirmed sources said the incident involved about 30 persons out of which 10 persons lost their lives.

  • Seven girls die in Jigawa boat accident

    Seven girls die in Jigawa boat accident

    At least seven girls have died after a boat capsized in Jigawa on Friday.

    According to the police, three other girls were also rescued.

    The girls were all aged between 10 to 12 years of age.

    “Subjects reportedly came from Gafasa village via K/Hausa LGA to Gasanya village in Auyo LGA for Maulud Celebratration,” the police said.

    “In a haste and anxiety to reach home considering the time, they deliberately decided to drive a boat parked at River Gasanya by themselves in the absence of Craftman.

    “They were all evacuated and referred to General Hospital Kafin Hausa F.N.A and confirmed dead by Medical Doctor.

    “Investigation is on going.”

  • 17 rescued as boat capsizes in Lagos

    17 rescued as boat capsizes in Lagos

    Barely a month after a ferry passenger boat capsized in Lagos Island enroute Ikorodu, another boat with 17 passengers on board has capsized on Saturday.

    The incident reportedly occured 20 minutes after the privately owned boat identified as GT Water Line 4 took off at Ebute-Ero enroute Ikorodu Terminal at about 5.15pm.

    The Lagos State Waterways Authority LASWA, who confirmed this in a statement signed by its General Manager, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel said the boat left Ebute-Ero at about 5.15pm with 17 passengers onboard including 14 males and 3 females.

    He said LASWA Patrol team and some other boat operators were swift to respond to the distress call from the boat thereby rescuing all 17 passengers onboard including 2 minors. He said, “apparently all passengers were wearing live jackets which aided the safe rescue of all onboard.

    “The boat and it’s captain have been taken to custody for further investigation to unravel the cause of the accident and necessary actions.

    “To forestall a recurrence of such incident, LASWA has once again warned all boat operators to always adhere strictly to safety measures while advising all waterways users to ensure the use of life jackets at all time when boarding a boat.” He added.

  • Boat accidents kill four, injure 19 in Ondo

    Boat accidents kill four, injure 19 in Ondo

    Four persons have lost their lives while 19 others sustained injuries in boat accidents at different locations in Ilaje and Irele Local Government Areas of the Ondo State.

    The Public Relations Officer of Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Olufemi Omole, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, in Akure, the state capital.

    According to the statement, the State Commandant of the Corps, Hameed Abodunrin, lamented that the victims died in the mishaps due to their failure to put on their life jackets.

    “A boat mishap at Ilaje Local Government Area claimed the life of one passenger leaving 15 others wounded as a result of over-speeding and refusal to use life jackets,” he said.

    In another incident, in Irele local government, a small boat collided with a bigger wooden boat on the high sea in the night, leading to the death of a passenger while four others were terribly injured.

    Abodunrin warned that henceforth, the command’s Marine Special Force would be on patrol to arrest boat passengers who refuse to use the life jackets.

  • Military did not fire at cargo boat on Bonny River – DHQ

    Military did not fire at cargo boat on Bonny River – DHQ

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed reports that the military helicopters fired at a cargo boat conveying people and food stuff from Port Harcourt to Bonny.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that it was widely reported on Friday that a military chopper opened fire on cargo boat conveying food stuff from Port Harcourt to Bonny.

    Reacting to the allegation in a statement on Monday, the Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Benjamin Sawyerr, said the report was false.

    Sawyerr said that the Air Component of the Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), received reports from ground troops who were on clearance operations but encountered resistance at the point of encounter.

    According to him, on receiving the report a combat helicopter was dispatched to provide close air support mission along the Cawthorne Channel.

    He said that the helicopter encountered an illegal oil bunkering boat popularly called “Cotonou Boat”.

    “The boat which was being escorted by two speedboats was suspected to be carrying illegally refined oil products in large drums along the Channel in the direction of OPDS patrol boats.

    “On sighting the boat, warning shots were fired to dissuade the crew from hostile action.

    “The crew fired back at the helicopter and the boat was engaged accordingly.

    The two speedboats detached from the convoy at high speed leaving the “Cotonou Boat” which was neutralised.

    “The helicopter later went after the two speedboats but was unable to track it, while the suspects are still at large and a manhunt has been sent out to apprehend them,” he said.

    The Defence spokesman said that the military had remained a professional institution that operates in line with best practices through the application of rule of engagement and code of conduct.

    He added that the military was also positioned to protect the populace rather than victimising them.

    According to him, efforts by anyone to protect criminality by disparaging the actions of the Military in preventing economic sabotage and other sundry crimes need to be condemned by all.

    He urged the public to disregard the report and continue to provide accurate information to troops that would help the military safeguard lives, properties as well as government assets in the South-South region.

  • Boat mishap kills 13 in Sokoto, Tambuwal, Wamakko mourn

    Boat mishap kills 13 in Sokoto, Tambuwal, Wamakko mourn

    The Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, and Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, have mourned the death of 13 people in a boat mishap on Thursday.

    The victims were said to be travelling from Doruwa to Ginga when the boat capsized.

    The Chairman of the Shagari Local Government Council, Alhaji Aliyu Dantine Shagari, said eight of the victims were married women and the remaining five were children and elderly men.

    He revealed that investigations are still ongoing as to find out what caused the mishap.

    The chairman noted that all their bodies had been recovered and buried in line with the Islamic rites.

    The state governor who condoled with the people on Friday promised to provide them with motorised boats and life jackets.

    Senator Wamakko in a statement expressed shock at the death of the people and lamented that it happened barely nine days after the deaths of over one hundred people in a similar tragedy in Warrah Local Government of Kebbi State.

    He prayed to the Almighty Allah to grant the deceased persons Aljannat Firdaus.

  • 156 declared missing after boat mishap in Kebbi

    156 declared missing after boat mishap in Kebbi

    The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has declared 156 persons missing in the boat mishap which occurred in Kebi State on Wednesday.

    Mr Yusuf Birma, NIWA area manager in Yauri Kebbi State, disclosed this, adding that the accident was caused by overloading.

    Birma said rescue operation is still ongoing but added that four people have been confirmed dead, 20 rescued alive while 156 people are still missing.

    “The boat is carrying 180 passengers with 30 Bajaj motorcycles. The victims were going to a market in Malele in Borgu local government area of Niger state from Kebbi and the incident happened just one hour into their trip.

    “We are still rescuing the victims; the mishap occurred as a result of overloading. The boat capacity is not up 180 passengers it carried, as we speak, only 20 people have been rescued alive, four dead confirmed while the remaining 156 people are still missing and they are believed to be underwater,” he told reporters.

    Speaking further on the cause of the mishap, Birma added that most of the boats are old and weak.

    “The boat involved is a wooden boat which are is old and are very weak but this people will not listen when we sensitised them to reduce the number of passengers they are carrying with the boat, ” he said.

    The Niger state emergency management agency also confirmed the incident adding that it didn’t happened in their state.

  • AFCON Qualifier: Super Eagles arrive Benin Republic by boat [Photos]

    AFCON Qualifier: Super Eagles arrive Benin Republic by boat [Photos]

    The Super Eagles have arrived in Port Novo, Benin Republic for their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against their neighbours.

    Gernot Rohr’s men upon arrival in the city by boat had their mandatory COVID-19 tests.

    “We have arrived in Porto Novo. We also had our mandatory Covid test done at the point of entry,” read a tweet on the team’s official handle. “We’ve settled in and lodged at the Golden Tulip Le Diplomat Hotel in Cotonou.”

    Nigeria are billed to take on the Squirrels of Benin Republic in a Group L 2021 AFCON qualifier on Saturday, aiming to book a place in the competition scheduled to take place in Cameroon.

    The 2013 African champions have called up 20 foreign-based players including in-form Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho for the game.

    Although the Benin Republic shares a border with Nigeria, reports suggest the Eagles are going by sea largely due to the concerns over the condition of the road connecting the two nations.

    There were fears over the move to travel by sea but the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Head Coach of the side, Gernot Rohr, have assured the team that they will enjoy the trip.

    After Saturday’s encounter, the team will return to Nigeria to face Lesotho in another AFCON qualifier on Tuesday in Lagos State.

    Rohr’s men are top of Group L standings after four games in which they have amassed eight points with their neighbours trailing them by just a point.