A horrible tragedy has occurred in Zamfara State as boat mishap causes the disappearance of several persons.
File photo used only for illustrative purpose
Up to seven passengers are feared to have drowned in Gumi river in Zamfara during a boat mishap recently.
Rescuers are now searching for the missing persons.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Senior District Head of Gumi Emirate, Alhaji Bala Gamo, said on Wednesday that the mishap occurred on Tuesday.
He said the boat was ferrying 22 passengers instead of 10 passengers, mainly farmers from their farms to town when it capsized.
Eyewitnesses told newsmen that some passengers had been rescued while local swimmers in the area were still in search of not fewer than seven passengers.
They said that the rescue team was later joined by officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on Wednesday.
The district head, however, said he had led a team from the emirate council to sympathise with the victims’ families.
He told those whose family members were missing that the rescuers would do their best in the rescue operation.
In the mean time, Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of the state has expressed concern over the unfortunate incident.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Enlightenment, Ibrahim Dosara, the governor directed SEMA officials to provide drugs for the rescued passengers.