Nine die in Taraba boat accident: The Chairman of Bali Local Government Area, Taraba State, Mr. Andy Yerima, said nine persons lost their lives in a boat accident on Sunday at Mayo-kam village. Yerima told the News Agency of Nigeria in Jalingo on Monday that the victims included five children and four women. An eyewitness, Alhaji Musa Isa, told NAN that no fewer than 50 commuters from Zude village were on board when the incident occurred. Isa said the boat, apart from the passengers, had cows, sugarcane and 150 bags of grains on board. He said the boat berthed safely at the harbour, but lost control after the boat driver anchored the rope, which suddenly cut off. Musa said the boat, in the process hit a bridge shattering into pieces while its passengers and goods were drowned. He said some of the men in the boat swam to safety while women and children on board were drowned. He said emergency personnel and rescue workers were not on ground to aid in search and rescue operations. Musa said eight bodies were recovered from the river at Mayo-kam, while another body was recovered at Tella in Gassol Local Government Area, bringing the death toll to nine. He described the incident as a tragedy and appealed to the government and National Emergency Management Agency to come to the aid of the victims.