October 02, (THEWILL) – A boat sailing from Mundi Community with 300 passengers, on Tuesday night, capsized at Gbajibo Community in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba Arah, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday, said over 150 passengers have been rescued alive while the search for more survivors is ongoing.
“NSEMA has received a report of a boat mishap that occurred last night, 1st October 2024, around 8.30 pm on river Niger upstream Jebba dam, at Gbajibo Community in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
“The boat was sailing from Mundi Community with a population of almost 300 passengers, mostly women and children, for Maulid celebration at Gbajibo.
“Thanks to the prompt response from the community volunteers, over 150 persons have been rescued alive so far. The search and rescue operation is still ongoing to locate more survivors, and the general public will be provided with the update,” he said.
Arah said the Agency is directing and monitoring search and rescue operations in collaboration with the State Ministry of Transport, Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, brave local divers, and other community volunteers.
