From Layi Olanrewaju Ilorin
Barely seven months after a boat accident claimed over 200 lives in Gbajibo in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, 37 Traders have perished in another mishap which occurred on Thursday in Gbajibo-Mudi community in the local governments area.
The traders, according to sources, were returning home from the weekly in Niger State in the evening on the fateful day.
The sources said the boat, which was about 100 passenger capacity, was overloaded while the accident was fueled by the overflowing river.
Chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Abubakar Abdullahi and the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Shehu Omar, have visited the scene to sympathise with the community.
A former chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Mahmoud Salihu Gbajibo, who confirmed the incident to Daily Sun in a telephone conversation on Saturday said 37 bodies had been recovered by the rescue team of the community.
Efforts to get the Kwara State Police Command confirmation proved abortive as the telephone lines of the PPRO, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, not get through. The 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, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has sent condolences to the families of the victims and the government of Niger State.
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.
A similar incident occurred on October 4, 2024, when the boat carrying guests who went for Maulud celebration in Mokwa Local Government of Niger State capsized and killed over 200 passengers.