The boat mishap on the Badau-Bagwai River in the state’s Bagwai local government has been regarded as regrettable by the Kano State Executive Council, which has approved the formation of a committee to examine the incident.
Malam Muhammad Garba, the state commissioner for information, told reporters following an emergency meeting of the council held at the Africa House, Government House, Kano, that the ill-fated incident on Tuesday claimed the lives of 29 individuals, including men, women, and children.
The hunt for 14 more victims of the horrific boat incident on the Bagwai-Badau River has intensified, he added, while seven additional wounded are responding to treatment at Bichi General Hospital.
Malam Garba also revealed that the council had adopted steps to assist the victims’ grieving relatives, including relief items and N6 million in cash.
The commissioner also stated that the council had approved the formation of an immediate investigative committee to look into the disaster and advise the government on how to prevent such incidents in the future.
The state Naval Commander, Navy Captain Muhammad Abubakar Alhassan, will head the committee.
The chairman, Policy, Strategy, Implementation, and Evaluation Directorate, Alhaji Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi; commissioners for commerce, transport and housing, information, religious affairs, representative of the commissioner of works and infrastructure, representatives of the commissioner for local government, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Bichi Emirate, the DSS, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, are to serve as members, while a representative from the cabinet office will serve as secretary.
Ada Peter
