Following the capsizing of a boat carrying over 200 persons in the Gbajibo community of Mokwa Local Government Area (LGA), Niger State, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has confirmed the death of 25 persons.
The boat was conveying over 200 passengers to Gbajibo for the Mawlid celebration capsized on October 1, and for hours, rescue operations were not forthcoming, leading to a high casualty rate.
The Director-General of NSEMA, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, in a statement on Wednesday, said the agency had earlier recovered nine bodies, adding that another 16 bodies were found during its latest rescue operation.
The NSEMA boss said the victims were four females and 21 males, adding that the search was still ongoing to rescue the remaining 125 missing passengers.
The statement reads, “Sixteen corpses have been recovered so far, made up of two females and 14 males.
“NSEMA is leading the search-and-rescue operations in collaboration with the State Ministry of Transport, the Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, local divers, and community volunteers.
“The rescue efforts continue, as the state mourns the loss of those who perished in the tragic accident.”
