The Presidency has mourned over 40 farmers who died in a boat accident in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Zamfara’s Governor Dauda Lawal described the deaths of the 40 people as a monumental disaster.
The accident comes barely a week after a flood disaster recently destroyed over 2000 houses, several farmlands and farm produce valued at millions of naira in the same council of Zamfara State.
The accident occurred in the early hours on Sunday, September 15 in Gummi town when the farmers were reportedly going to their farms in the boat that was carrying more than 40 people.
The vessel capsized in the Bakin Kasuwa River.
In a statement on Sunday, September 15, the special adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, said, “President Bola Tinubu has commiserated with the people and Government of Zamfara State over recent floods in Gummi Local Government Area and the death of over 40 farmers in a boat accident on their way to their farms at the weekend.
“President Tinubu expressed the government and the people of Nigeria’s commiseration over the twin tragedies in the Zamfara community.
“President Tinubu also directed response agencies to work with the Zamfara State Government to help those affected by the disaster.”
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Sulaiman Idris, the Governor described the incident as a monumental disaster.
“We received the tragic report of a boat accident in Bakin Kasuwa River in Uban Dawaki ward, Gummi Local Government Area, resulting in the loss of over 40 lives.
“The Governor has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to embark on immediate rescue and recovery of the dead bodies.
“The Governor also directed the agency to take immediate action to assess the extent of the accident and provide urgent assistance,” the statement said.
It added that the Governor also directed the Commissioner for Humanitarian and Relief Matters to provide immediate relief materials to the victims and their families.
“Governor Lawal also prays for the souls of the departed victims, grieved with their families, and assured of the state government’s commitment to prevent such occurrence in the future,” Idris said.
