Barely seven months after a devastating boat accident in Gbajibo, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, which resulted in over 200 fatalities, tragedy struck again on Thursday in the Gbajibo-Mudi community.
This latest incident claimed the lives of 37 traders, according to reliable sources.
The traders had attended the weekly market and were on their way back home to Niger State in the evening when the unfortunate accident occurred.
Sources indicate that the boat, with an approximate capacity of 100 passengers, was overloaded, a situation exacerbated by the swollen river.
In response to the tragedy, the Chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Abubakar Abdullahi, and the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Omar, are currently on-site to offer their condolences and support to the affected community.
Confirming the incident in a telephone conversation on Saturday, a former Chairman of the local government, Mahmoud Gbajibo, said the community’s rescue team had recovered 37 bodies from the river.
“The boat accident occurred at about 6pm on Thursday. The traders closed from the market in Gbajigbo Mudi and were returning to their various communities in Niger state when the tragic incident occurred.
“37 corpses were recovered from the river while many others were rescued from the river. The cause of the accident can be attributed to overloading of the boat while the water volume also contributed to it.
“Right now, the chairman of the local government and the Emir of Kaiama are in Gbajigbo Mudi community to sympathise with the people,” he said.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Kwara State Police Command on the incident were unsuccessful as the spokesman, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi’s telephone line declined calls.
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