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.
..................PUNCH
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