From LAYI OLANREWAJU, Ilorin
Less than seven months after a boat accident claimed over 200 lives in Gbajibo in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, again 37 traders perished in another Boat mishap which occurred on Thursday in Gbajibo-Mudi community of the Local Government Area of Kwara state.
The traders according to impeccable sources came to the weekly market and were returning home in Niger state in the evening on the fateful day when the accident occurred.
The sources said that the boat which was about one hundred passenger capacity was overloaded while the accident was fueled by the overflowing river.
The Chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Abubakar Abdullahi and the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Shehu Omar, are presently on ground to sympathize with the community.
A former chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Mahmoud Salihu Gbajibo who confirmed the incident to Daily Sun correspondent in a telephone conversation on Saturday said that 37 bodies were recovered from the river by the rescue team of the community.
According to him, “the boat accident occurred at about 6pm on Thursday after the traders who closed from the market in Gbajigbo Mudi and were returning to their various communities in Niger state when the tragic incident occurred.
“37 corpses were recovered from the river while many others were rescued from the river.
“The cause of the accident can be attributed to overloading of the boat while the water volume also contributed to it.
“Right now, the chairman of the Local Council and the Emir of Kaiama are in Gbajigbo Mudi community to sympathize with the people”, Salihu said.
Efforts to get the Kwara State Police Command confirmation of the incident on Saturday proved abortive as the PPRO Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi telephone line could not get through while the State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo did not respond to call made to his phone while the WhatsApp message sent to him was not replied.
Meanwhile, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq sends heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of Gbajibo boat mishap involving traders from Niger State over the weekend.
The Governor in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye said : “He also sends condolences to the government of Niger State on the sad incident.
The Governor again urges boat operators and passengers to adhere to safety regulations for the good of all, describing as painful and unacceptable a culture of not using safety gadgets repeatedly provided by the government.
He prays to God to repose the souls of the victims.
It would be recalled that a similar incident occurred on October 4,2024, at Gbajibo when the boat carrying guests who went for Maulud celebration in Mokwa Local Government of Niger state capsized with over 200 passengers died in the accident while returning home.