UPDATED: 150 feared death, 9 bodies recovered in Niger boat mishap

Tragedy struck in Niger State on Tuesday night as a boat carrying around 300 passengers capsized, leaving 150 people feared dead.

The incident occurred at around 8:30 pm in the Gbajibo community of Mokwa Local Government Area.

According to reports, the boat was returning from a Muslim religious festival, the Maulid celebration, in Gbajibo, carrying mostly women and children.

Nine bodies seven males and two females had been recovered as of the latest update.

Abdullahi Baba Arah, the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), confirmed the unfortunate event. The boat was sailing from the Mundi community and capsized on the River Niger upstream of the Jebba Dam.

NSEMA, along with the State Ministry of Transport, local emergency committees, local divers, and community volunteers, has been coordinating search and rescue operations. So far, over 150 passengers have been rescued alive, thanks to the swift actions of the volunteers.

This disaster adds to the alarming number of boat accidents in Niger State in recent years. Last week, Deputy Governor Comrade Yakubu Garba revealed that 182 people have died in boat mishaps over the past three years.

He made the revelation during the 2024 World Maritime Day commemoration, where 33 fibreglass boats were distributed to improve water safety.

As search and rescue operations continue, the tragedy serves as a reminder of the dangers associated with water transportation in Nigeria, with urgent action needed to improve safety measures for passengers.