MINNA – Following Tuesday night’s commercial boat mishap involving about 300 travellers at Gbajibo village, Mokwa Local Government Area, no fewer than nine bodies have been recovered around the river Niger upstream Jebba dam in Niger state.
The nine dead bodies, Daily Independent findings revealed were part of about 300 passengers said to be traveling from Kwara state on a religious trip with their Chief Imam to old Gbajiko village.
A statement from the Commissioner Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Niger state, Alhaji Ahmed Baba Suleiman Yumu, signed by the Director Media and Strategy, Habibu Wushishi, confirmed the recovery of the bodies.
The boat was sailing from Mundi Community with a population of almost 300 passengers comprising mostly women and children to celebrate Maulid at Gbajibo before the unfortunate incident.
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“I received with shock the report of the boat accident at Gbajibo village in Mokwa Local Government on Tuesday, 1st October 2024 out of the about 300 passengers, only 150 of them were rescued alive”.
The Ministry, according to him is working tirelessly with the state Ministry of Transport, State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and the National Inland Water Ways to update all the critical stakeholders of the boat capsize.
Also speaking, the Director-General (DG) NSEMA, Alhaji Baba Arah blamed the accident on overloading and as well night traveling, adding however that search and rescue operstion is still ongoing.
Whike commending the prompt response of volunteer divers from neighbouring community volunteers, the NSEMA DG said, “Over 150 persons have been so far rescued alive”.
While the search and rescue operation to locate more survivors continues, Baba Arah said, “9 corpses; two females and seven males have been evacuated from the river”.
