Yesterday, a tragic incident occurred on the Benue River, resulting in the drowning of over 20 fishermen from Ibi and Gindin Doruwa in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State. Jidda Suleiman, the Taraba State Water Transportation Chairman, confirmed the boat mishap, which occurred between Anyeci area of Wukari council in Taraba State and Chinkai axis of Benue State. The fishermen had boarded the boat with the intention of traveling to Kwara State in search of better opportunities, but the journey ended in disaster.

Suleiman explained that it is customary for fishermen in Taraba State to travel to neighboring countries such as Cameroon and Chad for fishing from December to August. However, this time, the tradition led to a sorrowful outcome. He called on both the state and Federal Governments to provide life jackets for jetties to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State expressed deep sadness over the incident. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Digital Communications, Emmanuel Bello, the governor lamented the recurring boat mishaps and assured the public that the government was taking steps to prevent further tragedies on the waterways. He mentioned that investigations were underway to understand the root causes of such mishaps and that he would personally visit the affected areas to engage with local stakeholders in the water transport sector to ensure the safety of passengers. Additionally, measures were being implemented to phase out old boats and make the use of life jackets compulsory, among other safety measures.

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