No fewer than 100 people have been reported missing following a boat mishap in Warrah, headquarters of Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Wednesday.
Chairman of Warrah Local Government Council Abdullahi Haruna confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Haruna said the accident happened at about 11 a.m.
The chairman, however, said 22 people who wore live jackets had been rescued from the mishap.
He assured that rescue search was ongoing with a view to saving the lives of those missing.
Spokesman of the state police command Nafiu Abubakar also confirmed the development, saying he would make public their findings.
An eye witness had earlier told NAN on phone that the boat took-off from Loko in Niger State with over 150 passengers.
The source said about 20 people had been rescued, including a baby boy, whose mother was yet to be found.
According to the source, majority of the rescued passengers were confirmed to be residents of Warrah town.
“We are afraid that many people may have died from this mishap, because according to report the boat took off with over 150 persons and many are still missing,” the source said.
Reacting to the incident, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness, offering condolences to the families of those affected by the tragedy.
“While efforts are ongoing to recover more survivors, the President extends his gratitude to all those involved in the rescue efforts and wishes those injured from the accident quick recovery,” a statement by his spokesman Garba Shehu read.
