3 Farmers Killed, 17 Rescued in Borno Boat Accident
- Three farmers lost their lives in a boat accident at River Kubo in Shani Local Government Area of Borno state
- NEMA confirmed that the boat was overloaded with 20 passengers, of which 17 were rescued and three bodies recovered
- Local residents say search efforts are continuing as communities mourn the tragedy amid recent flooding across the state
Three farmers have been confirmed dead after a boat accident in Kubo ward of Shani Local Government Area, Borno state. The incident happened on Monday morning while the victims and other farmers were heading to their farmlands across River Kubo.
The National Emergency Management Agency, North-East office, said the boat was conveying 20 farmers when it capsized as a result of overloading.
Source: Original
According to the agency, 17 people were rescued while three bodies were recovered.
The agency quoted the chairman of Shani Local Government Area, Abdu Labaki, as confirming the details of the incident.
Labaki explained that the farmers were being transported to their farms on the riverside when the tragedy occurred.
“The boat capsized due to overloading. Seventeen people were rescued, but three died and their bodies were recovered,” NEMA stated in its report.
Resident confirms fatal accident
A resident of the community, Audu Abu, also confirmed the crash in a telephone call. He said efforts were ongoing to ensure no other victims remained missing.
Abu said:
“The tragic canoe crash occurred at River Kubo in Shani Local Government Area, specifically in Kubo Ward. The canoe, which was carrying over 27 people, met with an unfortunate accident, leaving three people dead.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those affected by this incident, and may Allah grant protection and safety to all.”
The incident has left many residents shaken as farming activities in the area largely depend on crossing the river.
Source: Twitter
The latest tragedy comes at a time when Borno communities have been grappling with seasonal flooding that has destroyed homes and farmlands across several local governments.
Local authorities have urged farmers to adhere to safety guidelines when using boats and avoid overloading in order to prevent further loss of lives.
Hundreds dead as rainfall triggers heavy flood
Earlier in another report, Legit.ng detailed that search and rescue efforts were underway across northern Pakistan after five consecutive days of heavy monsoon rains left widespread devastation and nearly 400 people dead.
Authorities warned that the downpours will continue through the weekend, raising fears of further damage and displacement.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that 356 deaths occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province alone, where landslides and flash floods swept through villages, leaving residents stranded and dozens unaccounted for.
Additional casualties were confirmed in neighbouring regions, bringing the toll since Thursday evening to close to 400.
Rescue workers, joined by army units and volunteers, continue to dig through mud and debris in Dalori village and other hard-hit areas in hopes of finding survivors. Efforts were briefly halted when another round of rainfall worsened conditions.
Tinubu visits Maiduguri over flood disaster
Legit.ng earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu visited Maiduguri, the Borno state capital to share his sympathy and condolences with the government and people of the state over the recent flood disaster.
The president is reported to be planning an on-the-spot assessment of the effect of the flood disaster, which consumed over 80 per cent of the capital's major cities.
According to the video of his visit, Tinubu was received by Governor Babagana Zulum and other government officials in the state.
Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
