Four persons have died and two others missing in a boat accident on River Alogani in Lafia local government area of Nasarawa State.
The boat, loaded with passengers and goods, was heading to the nearby Ashangwa community on a market day when it capsised.
It was learnt that it was carrying 25 passengers, eight motorcycles and four bags of mellon when it capsised. Nineteen people were rescued.
Overseer of Lafia East Development Area, Barrister Haruna Muhammed, who confirmed the incident, sympathised with the community and affected families.
He said the development area’s management had instituted an investigation to ascertain the immediate cause of the incident.
He said the development area authority and the community leadership had also engaged divers to search for the two missing traders and recover the goods and property.
Meanwhile, the state House of Assembly has passed into second reading, a bill for a law for the establishment of the inland waterways regulatory agency in the state.
The bill which was sponsored by Larry Ven Bawa, the member representing Akwanga South constituency, is aimed at regulating the carriage of persons and goods across waterways in the state.
It is also expected to boost socio-economic activities in riverine communities, create jobs and stem the rising accidents on waterways.