A sorrowful farewell turned into a double tragedy on Thursday when a boat conveying mourners capsized in Adamawa State, leaving two persons dead.
The ill-fated incident occurred on the River Gongola as the group was returning from a funeral in Njuwa area, Yola South Local Government. Eyewitnesses say the boat, which was overcrowded and lacked safety measures, suddenly lost balance mid-river and flipped, throwing passengers into the water.
While local divers and emergency responders managed to rescue several people, two were confirmed dead. The victims, both women, were said to be close relatives of the deceased they had just gone to mourn.
“We never imagined we would be burying more people today,” lamented a grieving survivor.
Authorities have since launched an investigation into the incident, while warning residents to avoid unsafe water transportation during the rainy season.
The Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA) has reiterated the need for stricter enforcement of safety protocols on waterways across the state.
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