Following a wedding ceremony, a sad boat accident in Yauri Local Government Area killed fourteen persons, the majority of whom were women. The Kebbi State Government has conveyed its deepest condolences for their loss.
The accident claimed the lives of thirteen women and one child, with many more rescued. Islamic tradition dictated that the burial of all the dead should take place on the same day.
On Monday, Governor Nasir Idris expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, the Yauri Emirate, and the local government council through a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Ahmed Idris.
The governor, who was accompanied at the burial prayers by Abubakar Shu’aibu, the chairman of the Yauri Local Government, advised the families affected by the incident to accept it as God’s will.
“Please accept this in good faith,” Governor Idris pleaded, reminding the audience that everything occurs because our Creator is aware of everything. “No one has the authority to challenge God because He does what He wants, when He wants.”
He urged the impacted populations to be calm and resilient and prayed for pardon for the deceased, asking that they be granted Jannatul Firdaus.
Members of the party who had escorted the bride to her house in Gwarzo village, Ngaski Local Government Area, were among those who perished.
The incident underscores the persistent dangers of using watercraft for transportation in riverine settlements in Kebbi State, as the vessel carrying them back allegedly capsized in the middle of their trip.
The state government expressed its deepest condolences to the Yauri people and promised to be there for their families during this difficult time, calling the tragedy one of the worst maritime disasters in recent memory.