The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reported that, tragically, sixty-nine individuals remain missing following a devastating boat accident in Karim Lamido local government area of Taraba state, which occurred on Sunday, October 29. This incident resulted in the loss of 21 lives, with the boat capsizing while carrying over 100 passengers across the River Benue.
In an update posted on its various social media handles, NEMA said 104 passengers, 42 men, 45 women and 17 children, were aboard the motorised boat.
According to NEMA, “search and rescue operations were activated and out of the 104 passengers, fourteen (14) persons were rescued, Twenty One (21) dead bodies recovered while Sixty Nine (69) persons are still missing. Search and Rescue operations have been called off while we reached agreement with local divers to keep watch. The Deputy Governor of Taraba State , Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi Alkali together with other stakeholders on Tuesday,31st October,2023 visited the scene of the incident.”