150 Rescued, 150 Still Missing as Boat Capsizes in Niger State
150 people are feared dead following a tragic boat accident that occurred on Monday night in Niger State.
The incident took place at the Gbajibo community in the Mokwa Local Government Area around 8:30 p.m.
The ill-fated boat, which had approximately 300 passengers on board—mostly women and children—was returning from Maulid celebrations in the Mundi community when it capsized on the River Niger, just upstream of the Jebba dam.
Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), confirmed the tragedy in a statement on Wednesday.
“The boat was carrying a large number of passengers for the Muslim festival, and rescue operations are currently underway,” he said, adding that over 150 people have been rescued so far.
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Baba-Arah explained that the agency is working closely with local authorities, including the Ministry of Transport, local divers, and community volunteers, to conduct the search and rescue mission.
“The prompt response from community volunteers has contributed to the rescue efforts, but many are still missing,” he noted.
Although the exact cause of the accident remains unclear, investigations are ongoing, and authorities are providing continuous updates on the situation.
