By Agboola Aluko | GLiDE NEWS | April 7, 2025
A boat accident on the Jole River in Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State has claimed six lives, with nine others rescued in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The incident occurred on Saturday, April 5, when a locally operated canoe carrying 15 passengers capsized midstream. Rescue teams, working alongside local divers and community volunteers, were able to recover nine survivors and the bodies of six victims.
Authorities have released the identities of the deceased as Dadi Mallam Dotti (30), Mubarak Abdu (21), Bappa Mallam Dotti (20), Adamu Yayagardi (30), and one Madugu (22), all from Badabdi community in Funakaye Local Government Area of Gombe State, belonging to the Terawa ethnic group. The sixth victim, Umar Gambo (34), hailed from Zaura Ward in Damban LGA of Bauchi State and was of the Karakare ethnic group.
As of the time of filing this report, the boat operator remains unaccounted for. Security agencies and local authorities have launched a search operation to locate him.
While the exact cause of the mishap is still under investigation, the swift mobilization of emergency response teams was praised by local leaders and community members, who called for stricter enforcement of water transport safety regulations in the region.
The state government has yet to release an official statement on the tragedy, but sources say measures are being considered to prevent future occurrences.
0 Comments