150 passengers are reported missing in a boat accident in the Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
The boat, carrying over 300 people—mostly women and children from mostly Niger State—capsized on Tuesday during a journey to celebrate Maulid.
The passengers were travelling from Mundi Community to Gbajibo Community when the tragedy occurred.
Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), confirmed the accident in a statement on Wednesday, adding that rescue efforts were ongoing to find more survivors.
Baba-Arah stated that the accident happened on October 1, 2024, at approximately 8:30 p.m., along the River Niger, upstream of the Jebba Dam, near Gbajibo Community in Mokwa LGA.
“The boat, which was transporting about 300 passengers, mainly women and children from Mundi Community, was en route to Gbajibo for the Maulid celebration,” he said.
He added that NSEMA was coordinating the search and rescue operations in collaboration with the State Ministry of Transport, Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, local divers, and other community volunteers.
“Thanks to the swift response of the local volunteers, over 150 persons have been rescued alive so far,” Baba-Arah stated
The Niger State official assured the public that the search and rescue efforts for the boat accident were ongoing, and more updates would be shared as additional survivors were found.
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