There is a common prayer point among Yoruba people of Southwestern Nigeria which says “May we never embark on a journey of no return”.
More than 300 persons in the Gwajibo Mudi community, a riverine area in the Kaiama Local Government area of Kwara State embarked on an ill-fated trip to neighbouring community of Gwajibo in Niger State to celebrate Maolud Nabiyyi, on October 1, and most of them did not return home alive.
The residents of the riverine area died in a boat mishap just one kilometre to their destination in Gwajibo community, Niger State, when their wooden boat capsised, according to one of the few survivors of the incident.
The sources in the area said that 93 bodies have so far been recovered from the river where the boat capsised.
It was also gathered that four children, who survived the incident were receiving treatment at the Primary Healthcare Centre, Gwajibo Mudi, and are likely to have been discharged.
It is recalled that no fewer than 103 people, including a father and his four children, who were returning from a marriage ceremony, lost their lives in a boat accident at Egbu village, in the Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara state, in June last year when the boat that was transporting them capsized.
People of Gwajibo Mudi in Kwara State have filial relationship with residents of Gwajibo community in Niger State. It was gathered that a leadership disagreement that occurred in the long past among the brothers and sisters made them settle a distance away from each other, while the river served as a boundary between the two communities.
In separate interviews with some residents of the rural community, the people cited overloading and night traveling as major factors for the cause of the boat mishap which occurred at about 8:30 pm.
It is noteworthy that road travel from Ilorin, the Kwara State capital to Kaiama is about an hour’s journey and another five hours, on a long stretch of bad road to the Gwajibo community, where the sad incident happened.
It was also gathered that means of transportation between the two communities of Gwajibo community in Kwara and Gwajibo in Niger State is water transportation, as the people use boats to move from one area to another for socioeconomic activities.
However, as the people of the Gwajibo community still mourn the loss of dear ones, they have called on the Federal Government to provide ferries and more life jackets to water commuters to reduce the nearly annual occurrence of boat mishaps across the country.
According to one of the residents and the lawmaker representing the area in the State House of Assembly, Honourable Haliru Danbaba, the ferry would provide safer transportation means to the people than wooden boats commonly used by the people in the area.
The lawmaker said that he would collaborate with federal national inland waterways to provide ferries to the area.
“We would present the issue under matter of general public importance in the House”, which he said would encapsulate the provision of the ferry.
The emir of the community, Alhaji Muazu Umar Sheu, expressed sadness over the matter and commended Governor Abdulrahman Abdulazaq for sending a three-man delegation, led by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, on a fact-finding mission and to sympathise with the people of the area.
Also, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has expressed shock and sadness over the tragic boat mishap.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Radio Ajakaye, the Governor expressed deep concern at this devastating incident and expressed his heartfelt commiserations to the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Omar Mu’azu Shehu and the people of Gwajibo on the development.
The Governor has also directed the state emergency management agency to join the humanitarian efforts for the victims, the survivors, and their families.
Meanwhile, the Emir of Ilorin and chairman of Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has commiserated with the state government over the unfortunate incident.
The monarch, in a condolence message, commiserated with the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Omar Mu’azu, over the tragic incident which reportedly claimed the lives of about 169 persons.
“The incident is regrettable, saddening, and worrisome considering the number of victims and lives involved”, the Emir said.
The monarch, however, commended the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for promptly directing the state emergency management agency to join the humanitarian efforts to provide for the survivors of the incident and the families of other victims.
He appealed to the residents of riverine areas to always put on safety jackets while traveling on the water as a precautionary measure.
The Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, who led a state government delegation to condole with the people, conveyed the heartfelt sympathies of the government at the palace of the Emir of Kaiama.
“We are here on behalf of the governor to register his heartfelt sadness over the unfortunate incident. As a compassionate leader, the Governor decided to send this powerful delegation to Kaiama to commiserate with the Emir, the victims, and the people of Gbajigbo as well as to obtain first-hand information about the boat mishap”, the Speaker stated.
“It is important to remind our people, especially the sea travelers that wearing life jackets and adherence to other safety protocols are essential in preventing this kind of sad incident. I, therefore, implore the sea travelers in Gbajigbo and across the state in general to make use of life jackets already provided by the government.
“On behalf of the governor and government of Kwara State, our hearts go out to the Emir of Kaiama, victims and families of the deceased as well as the entire community, we pray to Almighty Allah to forgive the departed, grant them Aljanat Fridaos and give us all the strength needed in this trying time and beyond”
The Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Shehu Omar Bagidi Kiyaru IV, while responding to the message of the state delegation, acknowledged the proactiveness of Governor AbdulRazaq moment he heard of the incident and also appreciated the delegation, praying for their safe travels in and out of Kaiama.
Right Honourable Danladi-Salihu later departed to Gwajibo where he visited the survivors of the mishap and the port of departure of the capsized boat in the company of Alhaji Muhammad Tukur Umar; the Ciroma of Kaiama Emirate and other community leaders.
The speaker, earlier in Gwajibo paid homage to the village head; Alhaji Ibrahim Usman, and interacted with the stakeholders in the community where they commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his prompt response to the mishap and his fatherly disposition to the people of the community. They prayed for the Governor and the government of Kwara State.
At the interactive session with the stakeholders, the speaker announced the cash donation of a sum of N2 million for the medical bills of the survivors of the mishap and the family of the deceased, assuring that the government through the State Emergency Management Agency would also come to their aid. He also promised that the basic health center and primary school in the community would soon be refurbished to enhance their effectiveness.
On the state delegation’s condolence visit to Gbajigbo were Honourable Saidu Baba; Bani/Adena/Gwanabe /Gweria, Honourable Abdullah Halidu Danbaba; Kaiama/Kemanji/Wajibe, Honourable Muhamma Baba Salihu; Òkúta/Yashikira, Honourable Abdullah Bata; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Honourable Abdullah Danladi; the Executive Chairman, Kaiama Local Government, Honourable Isa Jibril; the Executive Chairman, Baruten Local Government, Alhaji Umar Danladi Shero; Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Sadiq Buhari; Adviser to the Governor on Social Investment among others.
Meanwhile, life has continued in the area after the sad incident, as people with business concerns, continued to transport their goods and services across the river.
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