11 family members, three others die in Niger boat disasters

No fewer than 11 women from the same family in Dan Gunu village have perished in a boat mishap in Sarkin Pawa River, Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.
The Eagle Online gathered‎ that the 11 family members had gone to the farm to harvest groundnut in company of two men and that it was only the two men that survived the accident.
However, while the villagers in Dan Gunu village were mourning the death of their beloved ones, a similar incident occurred in a neighbouring village of Guni, in the same local government area, which claimed three lives.
The mishap reportedly occurred in the two rivers that combined with River Kaduna to form the Shiroro Dam, while the villagers were returning from their farm on Monday evening at about 6pm.
Some of the dead were identified as Munau, Wara, Fiddausi, Zainab, Najaatu, Ikilima, Fatima, Ladidi, Balaraba and Hafsat.
In a condolence message, the Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Senator David Umaru, described the incident as shocking and unfortunate.
Umaru added that the disaster has brought to the fore the sufferings and hardship of the people of the area as a result of the activities of the Shiroro Hydro Dam
Senator Umaru, in whose constituency the disaster occurred, lamented the lack of roads and bridges in the area, adding: “This has shown the urgent need and necessity for the immediate take-off of the HYPPADEC Commission.”
He explained that the lives of the people in the area have been made more difficult with the disastrous perennial flooding.
He said: “Since the construction of the dam, nothing has been done to make the people cope with their displacement.”
Umaru, however, called on relevant authorities to ensure the immediate implementation of the HYPPADEC Act, adding: “We should avoid a situation whereby we have to lose a life.
“It is even more terrible if we have to lose 13 lives in a day.”