About 100 Passengers Missing In Boat Which Capsized In Niger River
A boat conveying about 100 passengers has capsized in Niger state.
An unspecified number of the passengers are believed to have died in the boat mishap.
The boat was conveying passengers from Dagga, near Kainji to Wara market in Kebbi state.
The Spokesman of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Ibrahim Hussain, said the incident occurred on Monday afternoon.
He said the number of passengers who died or survived was still uncertain as local divers are still searching for them in the river.
The emergency agency says its preliminary investigations blame the incident on a combination of many factors, including water hyacinth, strong waves, and grafting trees.
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No clear information about death and survivors yet. Meanwhile, search and rescue operations are ongoing by the local divers, NSEMA desk officers, and local government officials. Updates will be forwarded as they are received, he assured.
In November 2023, 34 persons, including 10 children, were aboard an ill-fated boat that capsized while traveling from the Zangoro Bassa/Kukoki Ward terminal to the Gijiwa/Kato Ward terminal in the Shiroro Local Government Area.
Giving an update on the incident, NSEMA said its findings showed that a combination of water hyacinth, strong waves, and grafting trees caused the boat to capsize.
