Kwara state command of the Nigeria Police has given an update on the boat mishap at Egbu village in the Patigi local government area of the state, saying a total number of 103 persons died in the accident.
The report had it that the boat accident, which occurred on Monday night, had a father and his four children among the victims.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Okasanmi Ajayi, who said on Tuesday night that other occupants of the boat survived, could not confirm the total number of passengers in the boat before the accident, while unconfirmed reports said that about 300 persons were in the boat.
He, however, said that the names of survivors would be made public as soon as they were available.
The Nigerian Tribune investigation gathered that about 50 bodies had been recovered from the incident while the incident had reportedly turned the entire local government area of the state into mourning.
It was gathered that the boat was suddenly overpowered by river waves and was smashed against a tree, leading to the boat capsizing and leaving many people dead, while others sustained varying degrees of injury.
The people were said to be returning from a marriage ceremony at a neighbouring Egboti village in Niger State.
Sources in the village also said that the deceased persons had taken off from Kpada village in Kwara state to be part of the marriage ceremony at the Egboti village in Niger state.
The sources, who gave yet-to-be-confirmed details of the incident, said that 69 persons lost their lives from Egbu village, 36 from Gakpan village and four from Kpada village in the Patigi local government area of the state.
Speaking on the development, the Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bologi II, confirmed the story, saying that efforts were on to recover other victims of the boat mishap which he said comprised of many communities.
The communities are Ebu, Dzakan, Kpada, Kuchalu, and Sampi, he said.
