TheCable

At least 19 children drowned in a boat mishap in Lafiagi, Edu local government area of Kwara state,  on Saturday.

The boat which was said to be conveying about 22 people, mostly children, capsized while crossing the river.

A source said that while two of the passengers were rescued, 19 others drowned and died.

According to him, all effort to rescue the victims proved abortive.

“As at yesterday evening, four corpses had been recovered from the river,” the source was quoted to have said.

“Effort would resume this morning again(Sunday) to ensure that others are also found. Both men of the Nigeria police and the state fire service were there yesterday in the rescue mission.

“Unfortunately only two of them survived.”

Sulyman Aliyu, secretary of the Lafiagi traditional council, confirmed the incident, saying the number of the victims could not be ascertained yet.

He was quoted as saying “Definitely they are up to 12. The figure is between 12 and that 19 that you said.”

He also confirmed that four corpses were recovered on Saturday and that efforts to remove others would continue on Sunday.

Ajayi Okasanmi, public relations officer of the Kwara police command, also confirmed the incident.

He said officers of the force and other security agencies had joined the local government council to recover the corpses.

He noted that the number of the passengers and the victims could not yet be ascertained as the recovery exercise was still ongoing.