Adamawa Canoe Accident: Gov’t confirms 8 dead, 7 still missing
The Adamawa State government has confirmed that eight individuals lost their lives in a canoe accident, while seven individuals remain missing.
The tragic incident occurred when a boat, carrying 23 passengers, capsized in Njuwa Lake at Rugange village within the Yola South Local Government Area.
Despite the recovery of eight bodies and the rescue of eight survivors, efforts are ongoing to locate the missing passengers.
The Executive Secretary of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, Mohamed Suleiman, provided this update during a sympathy visit to the affected families, emphasizing continued rescue efforts.
The ADSEMA boss assured that rescue efforts were on to determine the fate of the passengers that were yet to be tracked.
The state’s deputy governor, Prof Kaletapwa Farauta, has also directed the provision of life jackets for canoe users to enhance safety, particularly in the event of adverse weather conditions such as rainstorms.
She advised residents of riverine communities, other canoe users, and operators of canoes to monitor weather conditions, including likelihood of rain and storm before embarking on any journey.
The canoe accident according to reports, is believed to have been caused by a sudden rainstorm that disrupted the vessel’s balance.
