At least 13 bodies have been recovered following a boat mishap in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, while several others remain missing.
The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah, confirmed the incident, which occurred around 11:45 a.m. on Saturday near Kwata, en route to the Zumba weekly market.
According to a statement by the Director of Information and Special Duties, Dr. Ibrahim Hussaini, the boat was carrying both passengers and goods when it capsized.
He said the boat operator and a few passengers were rescued, adding that one of the survivors, who was admitted at the General Hospital in Kuta, has since been discharged.
Dr. Hussaini noted that the total number of casualties is yet to be determined, as search and rescue operations are still ongoing. NSEMA personnel, local divers, and community volunteers are continuing efforts to find the remaining victims.
It could be recalled that the Niger State Government, in collaboration with the National Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and other agencies, had previously distributed life jackets to riverine communities.
However, poor enforcement of safety regulations has led to high casualty rates during boat mishaps.
