No fewer than 40 persons have been confirmed dead in a boat mishap in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

It was gathered that the boat carrying more than 40 persons capsized in the Bakin Kasuwa River of Uban Dawaki community in Zamfara State on Sunday, September 15, 2024.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Zamfara State Governor on Media and Publicity, Sulaiman Idris, who confirmed the incident, said his principal described the incident as a monumental disaster.

Idris said: “We received the tragic report of a boat accident in Bakin Kasuwa River in Uban Dawaki ward, Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, resulting in the loss of over 40 lives.

“The governor has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to embark on immediate rescue and recovery of the dead bodies.

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“The governor also directed the agency to take immediate action to assess the extent of the accident and provide urgent assistance.”

He added that the governor also directed the Zamfara State Commissioner for Humanitarian and Relief Matters to provide immediate relief materials to the victims and their families.

“Governor Lawal also prays for the souls of the departed victims, grieved with their families, and assured of the state government’s commitment to prevent such occurrence in the future,” Idris stated.

A flood disaster recently destroyed over 2,000 houses, several farmlands, and farm produce valued at millions of naira in the same LGA.

The Star