By Aliyu Abdulwahid
An investigation into the death of five Kogi State citizens whose car plunged into a canal on Friday has been launched by the state government.
Kingsley Fanwo, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, in a statement in Lokoja on Monday, explained that the victims plunged into the canal of Omi Dam along River Niger in the Yagba West Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, only one of the five occupants of the car escaped death as he swam to safety, aided by a good Samaritan, a fisherman, who unfortunately drowned.
The statement explained that among the dead were three ladies and two men, including the fisherman.
The Commissioner explained that the state government received the sad news of the death of the deceased with shock and disbelief, saying that the state government had resolved to look into the cause of the mishap.
“The Kogi State Government under the leadership of Alhaji Yahaya Bello has since launched investigations into the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident,” the statement said.
He said that the state government was willing and ready to cooperate with the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority to improve the safety of people working around the canal and passengers travelling along the routes around the canals.
He assured that the state government cannot afford to lose the lives of its citizens to such avoidable deaths.
Fanwo stated that the state government had already received preliminary reports from the Yagba West Local Government authorities with a view to finding a solution to the problem.
He explained that the state government would communicate its observations and recommendations to the authorities of the LNRBDA to avert future occurrence.
He explained that the heart of the state government is with the families that lost their loved ones and the people of Yagba West and Yagba East Local Government Areas over the unfortunate and sad accident.
