No fewer than 150 passengers have been declared missing in a boat accident which occurred at Gbajibo community in Mokwa local government area of Niger state.
The accident was said to have occurred at about 8.30pm on Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day, October 1, 2024 while the boat was sailing from Mundi community with 300 people on board.
The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba Arah, confirmed in a statement in Minna Wednesday morning that 150 passengers have been rescued alive while search for more survivals is ongoing.
“NSEMA has received a report of a boat mishap that occurred last night, 1st October 2024,around 8.30 pm on river Niger upstream Jebba dam, at Gbajibo Community in Mokwa local government area of Niger state. The boat was sailing from Mundi Community with a population of almost 300 passengers comprising mostly women and children for Maulid celebration at Gbajibo,” he said.
He explained that the Agency is directing and monitoring search and rescue operations in collaboration with the State Ministry of Transport, Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, brave local divers, and other community volunteers.
He said, “Thanks to the prompt response from the community volunteers, over 150 persons have been rescued alive so far. The search and rescue operation is still ongoing to locate more survivors, and the general public will be provided with the update.”