No fewer than 150 passengers are missing following a boat accident in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
The tragedy occurred on Tuesday as over 300 passengers, mostly women and children, were traveling for a Maulid festival.
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The passengers, who were on their way from Mundi Community to Gbajibo Community for the religious celebration, met disaster when their boat capsized.
Confirming the incident, the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, disclosed that search and rescue efforts were ongoing.
“NSEMA received a report of a boat accident that occurred on the night of October 1, 2024, around 8:30 pm along River Niger, upstream of Jebba Dam, at Gbajibo Community in Mokwa LGA,” Baba-Arah stated.
He explained that the boat was carrying around 300 passengers, primarily women and children, from Mundi to Gbajibo for the Maulid celebration.
“NSEMA is coordinating search and rescue operations in partnership with the State Ministry of Transport, Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, local divers, and other community volunteers,” he added. “Thanks to the swift response of the local volunteers, over 150 persons have been rescued alive so far.”
Baba-Arah assured the public that the operation would continue, with updates to be provided as more survivors are found.
