14 Farmers Die In Taraba Boat Accident, Many Others Missing

As many as 14 farmers have reportedly perished in Taraba State.

The farmers died in a boat mishap while many others are missing in Gwamtamu village in the Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State.

The farmers were said to be trying to harvest their crops from a flooded farmland when the incident happened.

It was learnt that the farmers who were inside 12 canoes paddling round to harvest their maize, submerged by water when the canoes capsized as a result of heavy rainfall and strong wind.

The farmers, who were from different villages located close to River Benue, were said to be picking maize in their farms on Thursday, which were completely submerged by water.

A source who spoke with Daily Trust said there were about 50 farmers inside the canoes, adding that only 15 bodies were recovered while many were still missing. 

According to the source, the worst incident involving farmers in the area, adding that out of the dead bodies recovered, two were of the same parents. 

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Taraba police command, DSP Usman Abdullahi, said they were yet to receive a report of the incident from the divisional officer in Gassol.