Adamawa Govt Confirms 8 Dead In Canoe Accident, 7 Still Missing

The Adamawa State government has confirmed that eight persons died while seven others are still missing in the canoe accident in Yola South Local Government Area.

A boat carrying 23 passengers had capsized in Njuwa Lake at Rugange, a village in the Yola South LGA, early on Friday, with the government confirming one dead as search operations continued.

Eight people had been rescued and eight bodies found, leaving seven other people yet to be accounted for.

The Executive Secretary of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, ADSEMA, Mohamed Suleiman, gave the update when he accompanied the state Deputy Governor, Prof Kaletapwa Farauta, on a sympathy visit to families of the affected people.

The ADSEMA boss assured that rescue efforts were on to determine the fate of the passengers that were yet to be tracked.

At the scene of the canoe accident, the deputy governor said a directive had been given for provision of life jackets for canoe users, to check casualty in case of future accidents.

She advised residents of riverine communities, other canoe users, and operators of canoes to monitor weather conditions, including likelihood of rain and storm before embarking on any journey.

The canoe accident of Friday was attributed by sources to a rain storm which hit the canoe and threw it off balance.