Boat mishap: Seven die, scores missing in Kebbi, fire guts over 12 houses in Bayelsa

No fewer than seven people have died and seven hospitalised in Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State when  a boat carrying 150 passengers returning from Malali Market capsized along River Niger.
The Coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in-charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States, Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammad, confirmed this in Ngaski on Saturday.
He said that efforts were on going between fishermen and the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to rescue the missing passengers.
“As soon as we had got the hint of the mishap, we put a call to the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority to help rescue the missing passengers.
“All the people on board were missing, but as rescue and search continue wide and deep of the river intensified, 14 people have been discovered; seven died and seven have been taken to Ngaski Hospital,” he said.
The accident occurred when the boat on transit carrying 150 passengers hit a branch of tree in the water and capsized.
Ngaski Local Government Area is two hours journey from the river where the incident happened.
In a related development, two separate  fires in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, that happened between Friday and Saturday,  have  destroyed properties worth millions of Naira.
The first incident occurred on Friday night at  Amarata.
The second occurred early on Saturday in Ovom, a suburb  of the state capital .
The houses gutted at Aritalin, Ovom were all wooden structures and the occupants were mainly commercial sex workers.
Miss Joy Onuh, a resident in the area, explained that the fire started from a locked room.
“We do not know  how the fire started. And we never knew it would spread because we thought that it was just an ordinary smoke. Then,  it became serious.
“We still appreciate the  efforts of the state fire fighters in putting out the fire, though they arrived late,” she said.
Jully Bobby, one of the affected residents, sobbed as she recounted her losses.
She said all her belongings including money, clothing and mobile phone were lost in the fire.
At Imgbi Road, Amarata, where the second fire happened,  a car and shops were destroyed.
The fire was believed to have been sparked by adulterated fuel and kerosene loaded in the car.
“It would have been a disaster if not for the help of the fire service. The car was fully loaded with fuel; I commend the efforts of the state fire fighters,” a female resident said.
Mr Prince Ogun, Station Driver, Bayelsa Fire Service Command, urged the people to promptly call the fire service  when they have an emergency.
“The one at Imgbi Road was in the night, Friday, about 8pm; we went there with our fire fighting personnel and we were able to put out the fire.
“In fact, the two incidents were shocking, many houses were burnt but no life lost.
“I am advising members of the public against the use of candle and to desist from illegal bunkering to avoid fire incidents,” Ogun said.