16 persons running away from gunmen attack drowned inside River
No fewer than 16 people, including women and children, have lost their lives in a boat mishap in River Shiroro, while trying to escape gunmen attacks on their community.
The Daily Sun reported that the incident occurred on Wednesday when the gunmen invaded Shayita community in Munya Local Government Area and ransacked the entire community looting foodstuff and other valuables.
Sources said the people had earlier gotten the wind of the attack by the gunmen and had begun to evacuate their belonging to relocate from the community.
It was gathered that no fewer than ten boats took off from Shayita in Munya Local Government Area and heading to Zumba in Shiroro local government area when one of the boats capsized midway into their journey, leaving 16 people feared dead.
The boat was said to be carrying about 60 people, mostly women and children with their belongings trying to cross over to the neighbouring Zumba community when the unfortunate incident occurred.
While some of the victims were rescued, many are still missing, fueling the possibility that the death toll could be more than the 16 whose bodies have been recovered by local divers in the community.
It was gathered that the rescue operation has been temporarily suspended by the locals as the gunmen closed up on the people, forcing them to not only suspend the rescue operation but also abandoned the 16 bodies earlier recovered at the river bank and flee to safety.
As of the time of this report, about nine boats had arrived at the Zumba river bank where the popular Saturday market is being bought.
There is no official statement yet on the incident but a closed source told Daily Sun that about nine boats carrying over 300 people from Shayita arrived Zumba river bank at about 10 am on Wednesday morning with their belongings.
