A boat overloaded with passengers in northern
Nigeria has capsized, killing 21 people, according to the state rescue agency.
The boat with an estimated 50 passengers on board overturned in strong currents in a river in the Gandi district of Sokoto state on Thursday, Suleiman Karim of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) told AFP news agency.
"Rescue teams recovered the bodies of 17 women and four children on board the overloaded boat which capsized due to strong waves," he said.
He said the other 29 passengers were lucky to make it to the shore.
The passengers were heading to Garin Kare village on the other side of the river to check on their homes, which they deserted following deadly attacks last month by suspected cattle thieves in neighbouring villages.
Thousands of the villagers fled to a makeshift camp after the bandits' attack, in which 32 people were killed and dozens of homes razed.
Boat capsizes are common in Nigeria due to overcrowding and the lack of maintenance for vessels, particularly during the annual rainy season.
In July, 22 traders were killed after their boat capsized in high winds in the Isa district of Sokoto state following a heavy downpour.
Passenger boats in Nigeria, especially in more remote areas, are often poorly maintained and sometimes incapable of navigating rough waters.
But operators with narrow profit margins typically try to put on board an excessive number of passengers to boost income.
Source:ajazera
JAFARU ISA RETURNS #100 MILLION OUT OF #170MILLION HE RECEIVED FROM FORMER NSA BOSS COL SAMBO DASUKI
A former military governor of Kaduna State and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Jafaru Isa, has refunded N100million of the N170 million he allegedly received from embattled ex-NSA, Sambo Dasuki. Mr. Isa, a retired brigadier-general, was arrested on Wednesday by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, at his Asokoro residence in Abuja. Mr. Isa, a political associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, was grilled for several hours in connection with about N170 million he received from Mr. Dasuki. A reliable source familiar with the matter told PREMIUM TIMES the APC chieftain and member of the 19-man Buhari Transition Committee was released after refunding N100million to the anti-graft commission. The source said Mr. Isa pledged to return the remaining N70million soon. “We let him go after returning the sum of N100million. We are expecting him to return the rest soon,” the source said. According to him, some of the suspected...
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