Niger: 16 bodies recovered near boat mishap site

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has reported that the death toll in the Gbajibo community boat mishap in Mokwa Local Government Area has risen to 16.

The victims include two females and 14 males, whose bodies were recovered by search and rescue teams near the scene of the capsized commercial wooden boat on Tuesday at about 8:30 pm.

This update was confirmed in a press statement signed by the NSEMA Director General, Hon. Abdullahi Baba Arah, and made available to journalists on Wednesday evening in Minna.

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Earlier, the agency had reported nine victims—two females and seven males—had been recovered by midday on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.

The search and rescue operation was conducted by the state Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, in collaboration with NSEMA and the Niger State branch of the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority.

According to Baba Arah, the cause of the accident was due to alleged overloading, night travel, and the absence of life jackets on the boat, which had almost 300 passengers onboard, mostly women and children, traveling for a Maulud celebration.

The boat had departed from Mundi community and was headed to Gbajibo, when it capsized on the River Niger near Jebba Dam.

Among the deceased was the Chief Imam of Gbajibo Mosque, whose body was also recovered. Most of the passengers were youths traveling from New Gbajibo in Kwara State to Old Gbajibo in Niger State for the celebration.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE