Taraba State faced another heartbreaking incident as a boat mishap in the Ibi local government area claimed the lives of over 20 people, mostly fishermen. Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, calling the incident most worrisome, especially in the aftermath of a similar tragedy in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area just a week prior.
In a statement, Governor Kefas prayed for the souls of the departed and assured the public that the state government was actively working on measures to prevent future boat mishaps. He emphasized ongoing investigations to uncover the root causes of these incidents and announced plans to personally visit affected areas, engaging with local stakeholders to enhance water transport safety.
The statement quoted Governor Kefas as saying, “Measures are in place to phase out old boats and introduce the compulsory use of life jackets among other life-saving measures.”
The tragic event unfolded around Anyiin in River Benue, where a boat capsized, resulting in the loss of lives, primarily fishermen from Ibi and Wukari local government areas. Alhaji Jidda Suleiman, Taraba State Water Transportation chairman, explained that the victims were on a fishing expedition, and the accident occurred between Chinkai of Benue and the Anyeci area of Wukari.
Suleiman appealed to both the state and Federal Government for assistance, specifically requesting life jackets as a crucial preventive measure. The incident underscored the urgency of implementing safety measures in the region’s water transport system to avert future tragedies.