By Our Reporter
Thirteen bodies have been recovered following a boat mishap in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, while several passengers remain missing.
The incident occurred around 11:45 a.m. on Saturday near Kwata village, as traders were heading to Zumba for the weekly market. According to the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah, the cause of the accident is yet to be determined, but search and rescue operations are ongoing.
“So far, we have recovered 13 corpses. Search efforts continue with support from local divers and villagers,” he said.
Some passengers, including the boat driver, were rescued. One survivor, initially hospitalized, has been treated and discharged.
Authorities suspect that overloading and non-compliance with safety regulations—common on market days—may have contributed to the accident. Despite previous distributions of life jackets by the state government and agencies like N-HYPPADEC and NIWA, enforcement of safety measures remains poor.