The death toll in the boat accident in Niger state on Tuesday night has risen to 36, two days after it occurred.
This was disclosed by the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) in a situation report released in Minna on Thursday.
The Chairman of the Agency said, “36 Dead bodies recovered so far as at 6 pm this evening. Search operation is still ongoing.”
The capsized boat was reportedly conveying 300 passengers from Kwara state at the time the accident occurred at a village in Niger state.
It was learnt that 16 bodies were recovered on Wednesday while eight more were picked Thursday morning but additional 12 bodies were retrieved later in the day before night falls.
Meanwhile NSEMA has described the boat accident as the worst in decades while expressing deep sympathy over the incident.
Blueprint recalls that the boat was carrying some 300 Muslim faithful from Munidi community in Kaiama local government area of Kwara state before capsizing in a neighbouring community of Niger state, leaving about 169 persons missing.