By Kabiru Dogon Daji
Birnin Kebbi
At least six persons were confirmed dead, 15 missing while 60 were rescued when a passenger boat, conveying 73 passengers, collided with another boat, conveying onions and five occupants to a local market, along the tributary of the River Niger in Gebe village of Shanga local government area of Kebbi state.
Confirming the report to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, the Executive Director of Kebbi State Emergency Relief Agency (KSEMA), Alhaji Abbas Rabiu Kamba, said the incident occurred on Tuesday night as the two boats operators could not sight each other.
He said the native divers were immediately mobilised to embark on a rescue mission whereby 60 were rescued and six dead bodies recovered, while 15 were declared missing.
Kamba further warned that the state had already enacted law that ban the boat operators from ferrying along the river after 6pm, adding that the law “is not relax” and that anybody found violating it would summarily be dealt with.
According to him, the security outpost, traditional leaders and leaders of thought were all involved in ensuring the total compliance and “we shall not relent on our effort in ensuring the safety of lives and property of innocent citizens.”
