No fewer than four people have died and two others are missing following a boat accident on the Alogani River in the Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The boat loaded with 25 passengers, eight motorcycles and four bags of melon was heading to nearby Ashangwa community on market day when it capsized, killing four passengers. Out of the 25 persons on board, 19 were rescued alive while two others are still missing. The four deceased persons include three male and a female.

The Overseer of Lafia East Development Area, Barrister Haruna Muhammed, who confirmed the incident, sympathised with the community and affected families over the incident.

He said the development area’s management has instituted an investigation to ascertain the immediate cause of the incident.

Muhammed equally said the authority and the community leadership have also engaged the services of divers to search for the two missing traders and recover the goods and property lost during the accident.

Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has passed into second reading, a bill for a law for the establishment of inland waterways regulatory agency in the state.

The bill which was sponsored by member representing Akwanga South constituency, Larry Ven Bawa, is aimed at regulating the carriage of persons and goods across all waterways in the state.