- The Chairman of Mokwa council, Abdullahi Muregi, confirmed the recovery of around 60 bodies, while 10 survivors have been rescued.
A tragic boat accident in Niger state has claimed the lives of at least sixty persons.
The incident happened on the Gbajibo River near Mokwa Local Government Area after a boat carrying approximately 300 passengers capsized.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night, October 1, while the boat was conveying the passengers from Mundi to Gbajibo for the annual Maulud celebration.
Most of the passengers were said to be women and children heading to the Maulud celebration.
The Chairman of Mokwa council, Abdullahi Muregi, confirmed the recovery of around 60 bodies, while 10 survivors have been rescued.
Rescue operations, led by the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, NSEMA, and local volunteers, are ongoing to search for the remaining missing passengers.
Abdullahi Baba-Arah, Director-General of NSEMA, disclosed that 150 people were rescued shortly after the mishap, with many still unaccounted for.
The cause of the accident remains unknown, but officials from NSEMA, along with the state Ministry of Transport and local emergency teams, are monitoring the search and rescue efforts closely.
This incident is the latest in the spate of boat accidents and floods affecting communities in Niger State, raising concerns about safety on local waterways