Greater than 20 farmers had been feared lifeless as a ship carrying about 100 farmers capsized in Koko/Besse Native Authorities Space of Kebbi State on Tuesday.

Kebbi State Police spokesperson, DSP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the accident and promised to launch particulars later.

Talking with the Information Company of Nigeria, NAN, on Wednesday, chairman of Koko/Besse Native Authorities Council, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, additionally confirmed the accident.

He mentioned it occurred on Tuesday night time when a rickety boat carried greater than 100 rice farmers to Samanaji, a riverine group within the space.

He mentioned 80 of the boat passengers had been rescued, whereas 10 had been discovered lifeless and others nonetheless lacking.

He assured that the rescue operation was nonetheless ongoing with a view to saving these nonetheless lacking.

In keeping with him: “Nearly all of the passengers are youths, small girls and boys. We’ve got discovered 4 feminine and 6 male corpses.

“We’ve got rescued greater than 80 passengers and we’re nonetheless trying to find the lacking others,’’ he mentioned.

The council chairman added: “Previous to the incident, we had referred to as an emergency assembly with the district head of Dutsin Mari and different conventional rulers and leaders of boat operators within the space.

“The assembly was to enlighten them and warn them towards the usage of rickety, previous boats, overloading and travelling within the night time.’’

Bello recalled that the council distributed 20 new boats in 2022 in an effort to forestall boat mishaps within the space.

20 rice farmers feared lifeless in Kebbi boat mishap