60 Bodies Recovered, Many Missing as Boat Capsizes in Niger

• At least 60 bodies have been recovered after a boat carrying over 300 passengers capsized in Niger state’s Gbajibo River
• The boat was en route to the annual Maulud celebration when the tragedy struck, leaving many still missing
• Rescue efforts are ongoing, with 10 survivors found so far, as the community reels from the incident

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In a devastating incident, at least 60 bodies have been recovered following a boat accident in Niger state.

The boat, carrying over 300 passengers, capsized at the Gbajibo River in Mokwa local government area on the evening of Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

According to a release by the press secretary to the council chairman of Mokwa local government, Abubakar Dakani, the boat was en route from Mundi to Gbajibo for the annual Maulud celebration when the tragedy struck.

Council chairman Abdullahi Muregi acknowledged the recovery of approximately 60 bodies and confirmed that 10 survivors have been found.

Boat carrying 300 capsizes in Niger

Rescue efforts in collaboration with the state emergency management agency and locals are ongoing to recover others who are missing are reported by Channels TV to be ongoing.

The incident was similar to a tragedy in September 2023, when a boat carrying over 50 passengers capsized, resulting in the deaths of 24 people who were on their way to harvest crops.

The community remains in shock as rescue operations continue, hoping to find more survivors amidst the ongoing efforts.

Boat accidents are on the increase in Nigeria. In April, Nigerians called for improved regulation of water transportation after Junior Pope, the Nollywood actor, passed away.

29 killed, 321,000 houses submerged

Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that the Kebbi state government led by Nasir Idris said that 29 people, 321,000 houses, and 858,000 farmlands have been lost to floodwaters in 16 of the 21 local government areas in the state.

Briefing journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Friday, September 27, the state Commissioner for Information, Yakubu Ahmed, warned: "If help did not come to the affected areas where rice, maize, guinea corn, and other crops were destroyed by the flood, there might be a shortage of food in the state and Nigeria at large."

As reported by Daily Trust, Ahmed highlighted that before NiMET predicted Kebbi would be worst hit, the state had already faced significant flooding due to water from Goronyo dam and the convergence of waters from River Rima and River Kaa through River Niger.

Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.