The Chairman of Bali Local Government Area in Taraba, Mr Andy Yerima, said that nine persons lost their lives in a boat mishap on Sunday at Mayo-kam village. Yerima told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jalingo on Monday that the victims included five children and four women.
An eyewitness, Alhaji Musa Isa, told NAN that no fewer than 50 commuters from Zude village were on board when the incident occurred.
Isa said the boat, aside the passengers, had cows, sugarcane and more than 150 bags of grains on board.
He said the boat berthed safely at its harbour, but lost control after the boat driver anchored the rope, which suddenly cut off.
Musa said the boat on the process hit a bridge shattering into pieces while its passengers and goods were drowned.
He said that some of the men in the boat swim to safety while women and children on board were drowned.
He said emergency personnel and rescue workers were not on ground to aid in search and rescue operations.
Musa said eight bodies were recovered from the river at Mayo-kam, while another body was recovered at Tella in Gassol Local Government Area, bringing the death toll to nine.
He described the incident as a colossal, and appealed to the government and National Emergency Management Agency to come to the aid of the victims.
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