The Nigerian Inland Waterways has sympathised with victims of boat mishap which occurred at Umumu Anam, Anambra West LGA, Anambra State recently.
According to a press statement issued on Monday in Lokoja by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Jibril Darda’u, saying “The Authority is aware that the sad incident involved a passenger boat travelling from Idah in Kogi state to Onitsha in Anambra State.”
“Upon the receipt of the sad report, relevant personnel from the marine department were deployed for rescue, recovery, and proper investigation,” he said.
He said the recovery efforts are ongoing and the Authority will provide detailed information to the public as soon as the field officers report back to the headquarters.
“preliminary reports indicated that the wooden engine boat rammed into a snag on the water channel and capsized with about 50 passengers on board. From the records, 8 persons were confirmed dead at the scene, while 38 others were rescued immediately.
“The Authority sincerely commiserates with the friends and families of the deceased and prayed to God to rest their souls,” Darda’u said.
The authority urged the public that everything possible would be done to ensure safer inland waterways for the movement of people and goods across our inland waterways.
