A sad event happened in Niger State when a boat carrying 300 people tipped over, with 150 people believed to have died.
The accident took place at around 8:30 PM on Tuesday, October 1, in the Gbajibo community, part of the Mokwa Local Government Area. Reports say the boat was coming back from a Muslim festival celebration.
As of now, nine bodies have been found, including seven males and two females.
The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba Arah, shared details about the accident. He explained that the boat was on the River Niger near the Jebba Dam when it capsized.
“The incident happened in the Gbajibo community in Mokwa at about 8:30 PM on Tuesday. The boat was returning from Mundi with almost 300 passengers, mostly women and children, who had attended a Maulid celebration,” he said.
NSEMA is working hard to find more survivors, teaming up with the State Ministry of Transport, local emergency committees, divers, and volunteers from the community. Thanks to their quick actions, over 150 people have been rescued so far.
Just last week, the Deputy Governor of the State, Comrade Yakubu Garba, mentioned that 182 people had lost their lives in boat accidents across Niger State over the past three years. He shared this during an event for World Maritime Day in Minna, where he also announced the distribution of 33 fibreglass boats to help make water travel safer.
