Niger Boat Mishap: 30 bodies recovered, 65 rescued, 7 still missing

Divers have recovered the bodies of 30 people killed in a boat accident in Niger state late Saturday.

By RONKE W. AHMED

Another 65 people were rescued from the accident scene In Tijana, Munya council area of Niger, but seven more people remain missing.

A boat conveying about 100 people including women and children capsized midway at about 6:00 pm on Saturday when the villagers were returning from a local market in Zumba in Shiroro local government area of the state.

The Sarkin Kasuwan (Head of the Market) Zumba, Adamu Ahmed, confirmed to Daily Trust the recovery of 30 bodies since search-and-rescue operations began Saturday night.

He explained that the local divers are still intensifying search for more bodies even as he said that lack of support in the area of logistics from any quarter is slowing their search operation.

The boat which is said to be six months old capsized in heavy windstorm in a rain on Saturday evening.

Among the victims were some returnees who had earlier fled their homes with their children due to bandit attacks.

Adamu said, “Some of the victims were going back to the village to go and get some food items and return back to Zumba where they are taking refuge as a result of bandits activities in the affected communities.”

The victims were from about seven communities, all in Munya local government where armed bandits have intensified their attacks on the people.

The Director-General, State Emergency Management Agency, Ahmed Inga, when contacted on the issue said the actual number of people that were on board the capsized were about

100.

He said 28 bodies have been recovered, 65 people rescued while search for the remaining seven is ongoing. (Daily Trust)