By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

No fewer than five persons said to have come from a riverine part of Kogi state have drowned in a boat mishap at River Niger in Onitsha, Anambra State on Sunday morning.

Information has it that most of the deceased who sailed through the Kogi end of the river were women and children.

Though the deceased persons have not been identified, they were said to hail from a riverine part of Kogi State, and were traveling by water to Onitsha for various businesses.

A source said: “Early this morning, there was a boat that capsized at River Niger. Some of the victims are from parts of Kogi State and Mmiata Anam in Anambra East Local Government Area, according to the eye witnesses.”

Police authorities in the state have however confirmed the incident, saying that its operatives received a distress call and rushed to the incident spot, and were able to rescue about 30 persons.

In his reaction, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the situation is under control.

He added: “Our marine operatives on getting the distress call about the incident responded swiftly. We were able to rescue over 30 of the passengers alive and recover the five lifeless bodies in the depths of the sea and the capsized boat.

“Preliminary information revealed that the boat was from Kogi State, conveying goods and passengers before the unfortunate incident occurred.”

Ikenga further said the cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained, saying that the investigation is ongoing.