The management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has confirmed that eight passengers died during the early morning boat mishap on Sunday at Umumu village of Anam community area on the River Niger in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State.
It was earlier reported that five passengers had died in the incident while 30 others were rescued by a team of divers.
But NIWA said yesterday that 38 persons were rescued from the capsized boat which carried 50 passengers on board.
According to figures released by NIWA eight deaths occurred while 38 others survived from the incident. Four persons were still missing or could not be accounted for.
A statement by NIWA’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Jibril Darda’u, said the incident, which occurred in 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 engine-powered wooden boat rammed into an object in the water channel and capsized with about 50 passengers on board.
The agency explained that upon receipt of the sad report, relevant personnel from the marine department were deployed for rescue, recovery, and proper investigation.
The Authority, however, commiserated with families and friends of the deceased and assured the public that it was doing everything possible to ensure safer Inland Waterways for moving people and goods across the country.
