By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

An unspecified number of persons including a businessman and a couple who were identified as Mr. and Mrs. Victor have allegedly died following a boat mishap at the first Niger Bridge, Onitsha, Anambra State on Tuesday.

The incident was said to have involved passengers moving from Asaba to the commercial city of Onitsha by boat for business.

Recall that the bridge was closed two weeks ago for repairs on the directive of the Minister for Works, Dave Umahi who had earlier inspected the level of damage on the bridge.

Information has it that the incident happened when a businessman, the couple and others whose exact number could not immediately be ascertained attempted to cross the River Niger, to beat the closed bridge and also a longer stay on the road.

Since the closure of the bridge for repair works, commuters and passengers have been finding it difficult moving into and out of Onitsha for business as the second Niger bridge is a longer route that sometimes create traffic that takes close to an hour more to clear.

While some passengers trek through the walkways of the close to two kilometers bridge to access Onitsha from Asaba, others use motorcycles which drops them half way to Onitsha end as a result of road blockade.

To this end, Okada riders take as much as N1,000 per passenger or take two passengers for a ride at the cost if N500 per passenger.

While some opt for the Okada ride to cross to Onitsha from the Asaba junction, others, especially those carrying wares stick to commercial vehicles that take the second Niger bridge to ferry their goods, the daring ones opt for boats to cross the river into Onitsha, which is said to be the cheapest means of transport.