Niger State Emergency Management Agency says 13 bodies have been has recovered after Saturday’s boat mishap in Kwata heading to Zumba market, in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred around 11:45 am on Saturday, when the boat loaded with goods and passengers capsized on its way to a weekly market in the area.
NSEMA Director General, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah, disclosed the casualty figure in a statement issued by the Director, Information and Special Duties, Dr Ibrahim Hussaini.
Recall that the driver of the boat and few passengers were earlier rescued, with some of them admitted in General Hospital Kuta and later discharged.
The NSEMA boss said the number of casualties has yet to be ascertained as the agency operatives, local divers and volunteers in the community have continued the search and rescue operations.
Recall that in a bid to forestall frequent boat accidents in the state, Niger State Government through NSEMA, National Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, N-HYPPADEC, and the National Inland Waterways Agency, NIWA, among others, had distributed life jackets across various riverine communities.
But failure by boat owners and travellers to use the life jackets – despite enforcement – has contributed to high casualty rates during such incidents in the state.
