Passengers Avoiding Closed First Niger Bridge Drown in Boat Mishap
David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka An unspecified number of persons traveling to Onitsha, Anambra State from Asaba for business have died, following an incident of boat capsizing reported on Tuesday. THISDAY
In Awka, several individuals traveling to Onitsha, Anambra State from Asaba for business have tragically perished in a boat accident, according to reports on Tuesday. The victims, whose exact count remains unknown, attempted to cross the River Niger in a boat to bypass the first Niger Bridge, which had been closed for repairs for over two weeks.
The bridge's closure had made travel to and from Onitsha challenging, with some opting to walk, others using motorcycles, and some relying on buses and goods carriers. Amidst this, daring passengers resorted to using boats as the cheapest mode of transport, with motorcyclists charging N1,000 and boats as little as N500. A recent boat accident claimed lives, including a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Victor, a man named Ikenna, and three suspected minors aged 12 to 16.
As of now, the incident's confirmation remains unverified, though a local resident of Onitsha reported the event to our correspondent.
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