From Maiharaji Altine
Forty one (41) persons were said to have lost their lives in a boat mishap in Gummi town, the headquarters of Gummi local government area of Zamfara state.
An eye witness account who is an indigene of the town, Abubakar Muhammad told the Analyzer news that, the deceased were going to their farms in the early hours of today Saturday when the boat they were in capsized and sunk into the river.
Mohammed said, there were 53 farmers and children in the boat and only 12 were rescued alive including the captain of the boat and the remaining 41 were dead.
He said, “When the boat capsized today Saturday morning, I was one of those who were present near the river closed to Gummi town”.
“Immediately the boat capsized, it sunk into the river with all the passengers”.
“We did our best to rescue them, but unfortunately we were only able to bring out 12 persons alive including the captain of the boat”.
“The bodies of the other 41 passengers were evaluated out of the water”. Said Mohammed.
Speaking to Analyzer news on phone, the Sole Administrator Gummi local government area, Alhaji Na,Allah Musa said, the boat was overloaded.
According to him, the captain of the boat told the passengers that, some of them must come down but all of them refused to listen.
He said, “There were many people on the boat and the captain did all he could to reduce the number but nobody wanted to be left behind”.
“When he did all he could to reduce the number but failed, he was left with no option but to start going”.
“As he moved forward, the boat capsized and sunk into the river due to overloading”.
“Only four of the passengers were able to swim out of the river while the rescue operators were able to save others”.
“There were many casualties but actually I can’t exactly tell you how many of them have died because we are still looking for other missing passengers”. Concluded the Sole Administrator.
In Gummi Emirate Facebook page, one Garba broker, a photographer attached to the Emirate wrote that, the Emir, Justice Lawal Hassan (rtd) in a condolence message has sympathized with the families of all those who have lost their lives in the incident.
The Emir described the incident as very tragic and prayed Allah to forgive all those who have lost their lives and give their families the fortitude to bear the loss.
He consoled those who have lost their loved ones in the in the incident.
He prayed Allah to forgive all those who have lost their lives and give their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Frantic efforts were made to speak to the spokesperson of the state police command ASP Yazid Abubakar who said he was traveling and promised to respond later.
Up to the time of filing in this report, Abubakar neither responded nor pick up the phone calls after several attempts.
