Over 150 passengers are feared dead while no fewer than 150 persons were rescued as a passenger boat conveying about 300 persons. capsized at about 8:30 pm on Tuesday, October 1.
The boat carrying mostly women and children for the Maulid celebration capsized at Gbajibo, in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
While confirming the ugly incident, the Director-General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency, NSEMA, said the incident occurred on River Niger upstream of Jebba dam when the boat was sailing from Mundi Community.
Baba-Arah, who spoke through the spokesperson of the agency, Hussaini Ibrahim, added that the agency is directing and monitoring search and rescue operations in collaboration with the State Ministry of Transport, Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, brave local divers, and other community volunteers.
According to him, due to the prompt response from the community volunteers, over 150 persons have been rescued alive so far while the search and rescue operation is still ongoing to locate more survivors.
He promised to give more updates as development unfolds.
