A team from the Nigerian Police Force Marine Unit has arrived in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, to begin investigation into direct and remote causes of the recent boat mishap involving 200 passengers.
The arrival followed the directive from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun for a comprehensive investigation into the boat mishap that claimed numerous lives in Kogi State.
The incident, which occurred along the Dambo-Ebuchi waterways of the River Niger in Kupa area, involved over 200 passengers. So far, 24 people have been rescued, 20 bodies recovered, and others remain unaccounted for.
CSP Chima Eze Ogarachi, Force Marine Officer at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, who is leading the team, confirmed their arrival in Lokoja on Monday.
He conveyed the condolences of the police to the families of the victims and emphasized the importance of adhering to safety protocols, particularly in light of this tragedy.
Ogarachi noted that the investigation is in response to the IGP’s directive and stressed the need for strict enforcement of existing laws, including the ban on night journeys.
He emphasized that the police will no longer tolerate negligence regarding the use of life jackets by both passengers and boat operators.
“The law against night traveling has been in place for a long time, but operators often ignore it. Only vessel boats are allowed to sail at night. We urge operators to observe the rules and ensure safety by using life jackets, whether traveling during the day or night,” Ogarachi stated.
Engineer Yakubu Zurkarnani, the Unit Head of Engineering at the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Area Office in Lokoja, explained that a log of wood that fell into the water caused an obstruction, leading to the mishap.
“Upon receiving the news, we immediately mobilized to the area. A fisherman reported that the boat operator couldn’t see the log of wood because the boat was traveling at night. The incident occurred around 4 a.m., which made it difficult for immediate rescue. It was the fishermen who discovered the victims later in the morning,” Zurkarnani explained.
Zurkarnani urged boat operators to strictly follow the ban on night journeys, stressing that the waterways are open for travel only between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
