Sophia Michaels
Mohammed Umaru Bago, the Niger State Governor, has expressed shock over the death of two children in a boat that was gutted by fire in Katcha, Katcha local government area of the State, Daily Post reports.
Bago in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, described the incident as terrible and painful
He observed that “negative incidences around water transportation, leading to loss of lives in riverine communities in the State, is becoming too frequent”.
The governor called on “relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to urgently do the needful and take proactive measures to halt the ugly trend”.
He also commiserated with the families of those who lost their loved ones in the tragic incident and prayed to God to repose the souls of the departed as well as grant quick recovery to those injured.
It was gathered that a boat conveying 50 passengers and goods worth millions of naira was gutted by fire on Friday evening when it was about to take off from Katcha to some riverine communities in Niger and Kogi states.
DAILY POST reports the passengers were returning to their various villages after the close of the weekly Katcha market in the area.
The two persons that lost their lives in the incident are said to be children.
Most of the passengers, including those that sustained injuries, were rescued by local divers.
