No fewer than three passengers have perished, several others missing, vehicles sank after a boat was reportedly capsized while ferrying commuters, baggage, vehicles across the collapsed Namnai Bridge, Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State on Friday night at about 7:20 pm.
It could be recall that a similar accident occurred in April where a boat accident claimed 6 lives, with other nine injured in the same state.
Sooth News learnt the accident happened when an engine boat carrying passengers and vehicles overturned in the water while crossing the Namnai River along Jalingo-Wukari road in Taraba State.
The Chairman, Taraba State Inland Water Transporters, Jidda Mayoreniyo, was quoted that; three people died in the boat mishap and several others rescued.
He also said four drowned vehicles were recovered, some passengers were rescued and Search and rescue operations are ongoing involving local divers and emergency responders at the time of this report.
Contrary to the above assertion, Local sources at scene revealed that about four vehicles on board the boat were still inside the water, while passengers lost their baggage and other valuables.
However, it was reported the accident occurred after torrential downpour that lasted not fewer than three hours
The Bridge, once served as a critical link connecting the State to Benue and other parts of the North Central, North East and North West regions, collapsed in September, 2024 and has remained in disrepair.
Many people in the area believed about four thousand passengers and hundreds of vehicles are said to be ferried across the Namnai River since the bridge collapsed.
It was however revealed that several vehicles had fallen into the river before the current accident while being ferried across since the bridge collapsed.
Sooth News is appealing to the concern authority to further enhance sensitization on safety, monitoring, compliance and sanction be prioritize to forestall further occurrence.
