The Kogi State Police Command on Thursday arraigned two suspects, Musa Dangana and Yakubu Dangana, before a Lokoja Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged conspiracy and negligence leading to a fatal boat accident.
The prosecutor, Gabriel Otowu, told the court that the incident was reported on December 23, 2024, by Titus Adoga, the Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), to the Commandant of the Nigeria Police Force, Inland Waterways Headquarters.
According to Otowu, the defendants, who jointly own a commercial wooden boat, transported 60 passengers from the ICupa area of Lokoja Local Government to Kacha Market in Niger State on November 29, 2024, at about 5:45 a.m..
He alleged that they failed to provide life jackets and ignored the weather, despite repeated warnings against traveling without safety measures.
During the journey, the boat struck a submerged log, capsized, and led to the drowning of 19 passengers. Their bodies were later recovered.
Following a police investigation, the defendants were arrested and charged.
Both pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The defense counsel, Zakari Useni, applied for their bail, citing sections 156, 160, and 163 of the Criminal Justice Law of Kogi State.
The Chief Magistrate, Abdullahi Musa-Mopa, granted them bail of N100,000 each, with a surety in like sum. The surety must be a civil servant on Grade Level 14 and reside within the magisterial district.
The case was adjourned to March 20, 2025, for further hearing.