TRAGEDY:About 150 People Feared To Be Dead At River Niger.

One hundred and fifty persons were feared
dead on Friday following a boat mishap in
River Niger, close to Malilli village in the
Borgu Local Government Area of Niger
State.
The accident happened at about 2 pm.

While 42 bodies were recovered and
confirmed dead, over 100 others are
reportedly missing.

As at 10:30pm, no there was no survivor.

Divers were still at the river looking for
more victims.

The Public Relation Officer of the Niger
State Emergency Management Agency, Mr.
Ibrahim Hussaini, told our correspondent
via the telephone that the incident
occurred as the traders were returning
from Malili village to their village, Tunga
Illo, which is across the River Niger.

He said, “The boat was believed to have
carried over 150 passengers, mostly traders
when it capsized mid way into its journey,
resulting in the drowning of 42 passengers,
while 100 others are missing.

“Swimmers from Malili village swung into
action immediately after they heard about
the mishap, retrieving 42 corpses from the
river, while efforts are being made to
rescue possible survivors along the bank of
the river or the corpses of those that
drown.

“At the moment, search and rescue is
ongoing on the river, I will make the detail
of the incident known soon.”

Meanwhile, the Governor of Niger State,
Babangida Aliyu, has commiserated with
the families of the victims of the boat
mishap. In a statement signed by his Chief
Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, the
governor said it was disheartening for such
a tragedy to befall the state at a time when
government was grappling with challenges
to better the lot of the people.

The statement urged those involved with
water transportation to be more careful,
especially during raining season when
water level was usually high.

It said the state’s emergency management
agency had since deployed its officials to
the scene of the mishap to ascertain the
extent of loss incurred with a view to
compensating families of the victims.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mr.
Saidu Ndako, also confirmed the boat
mishap. He said, “I received the information
late in the night that a boat had capsized
and 42 persons have drowned in the
incident, while rescue operation is ongoing.

“We believe that the boat was overloaded
because the boat’s capacity was put at 60
passengers, but over 150 passengers were
said to be on board during the incident.

“The debris in the swollen river may also
have been responsible for the incident.”

Last month, nine people drowned in similar
circumstance in Taraba while in March, 27
out of 133 persons died after their boat
capsized in Calabar.

Also, in March, seven persons drowned in a
similar accident in Delta State.