- Locals privy to be catastrophe said the boat belonged to one Musa Dangana and was en route to the Katcha weekly market when the calamitous incident happened.
Tragedy struck in the early hours of Friday after a boat with over 200 passengers aboard capsized in Niger State.
Many passengers lost their lives in the devastating mishap which happened along the Dambo-Ebuchi sections of River Niger.
Market women and farm labourers were said to be among the passengers of the ill-fated journey
Locals privy to be catastrophe said the boat belonged to one Musa Dangana and was en route to the Katcha weekly market when the calamitous incident happened.
All the passengers and goods on board the boat were reportedly thrown into the water when it capsized.
Rescue efforts are currently underway, with local divers working to recover the bodies of the victims.
Channels TV reports that eight bodies have been recovered, while search and rescue operations continue to locate the remaining passengers.
This tragic incident comes just months after a similar boat mishap happened on the Muwo Gbajibo River in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State on October 1, 2024, resulting in the loss of many lives.
Preliminary reports indicate that none of the passengers were wearing life jackets at the time of the accident, which may have contributed to the high number of casualties.
The authorities are yet to release an official statement on the incident, but an investigation is expected to be launched to determine the cause of the accident.