Anxiety, yesterday, heighted among residents of riverine communities in Anambra State and neighbouring towns as five persons lost their lives in a boat mishap on the River Niger in the state.
It was gathered that the victims were coming from an undisclosed location in Kogi State and headed towards Anambra State through the River Niger when the incident occurred yesterday.
A source close to a community in the riverine area of Anambra West Local Government Area, said the incident happened in the morning hours.
A viral video of the incident showed that the deceased were mainly women and children, but it was not clear where they were headed before the unfortunate incident happened.
Their true identities have not been established as at the time of this report.
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The occupants of the ill-fated boat were said to be coming from the riverine part of Kogi State and were traveling by water to Onitsha for various businesses.
“Early this morning (Sunday), there was a boat that capsized on River Niger. Some of the victims are from parts of Kogi State and Mmiata Anam in Anambra East Local Government Area, according to the eyewitnesses,” a source said.
Police authorities in Anambra State have confirmed the incident, adding that its operatives received a distress call and rushed to the incident spot and were able to rescue about 30 persons.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Aderemi Adeoye told our correspondent on phone that “yes a boat capsized; five persons dead and others rescued.”
The Anambra State Police Command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), when contacted, said: “The situation is under control.”
He said: “Our marine operatives on getting the distress call about the incident responded swiftly. We were able to rescue over 30 of the passengers alive and recover the five lifeless bodies in the depths of the sea and the capsized boat.
“Preliminary information revealed that the boat was from Kogi state, conveying goods and passengers before the unfortunate incident occurred. Meanwhile, the cause is yet to be ascertained, as the investigation is ongoing.”
Efforts to contact the Marine unit the state command failed while a contact on a senior Naval officer at the Naval Base in Ogbaru local government area of Anambra’ state did not go through for possible confirmation of the incident, especially the actual number of casualties.
