Niger Boat Mishap: Four More Bodies Recovered from River

Laleye Dipo in Minna

Four more bodies have been recovered from the River Niger at Mokwa town in Niger State where a boat conveying over 100 passengers capsized last Sunday morning.

The recovered bodies are those of three women and a child, and this brings the number of those who died in the accident to 30.

The Director0General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Mr. Salihu Garba, told THISDAY that the bodies were recovered from the river early yesterday morning.

Garba said when the accident occurred, local divers and marine policemen were able to rescue 30 of the passengers who were travelling to their farms at old Gbajibo community from New Gbajibo, Ekwa, and Yankyade communities.

Meanwhile, the state Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Umaru Bago, has described the incident as “sad”, and condoled with the families of those who died in the boat
mishap.

Bago said in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, that: “This is quite a shocking and sorrowful situation to the people of the affected communities, and I share in their sorrows.

“I pray that Allah will grant the deceased Aljannah Firdausi,” and urged NSEMA “to do the needful.”

Governor Bago emphasised the need for the people in the riverine communities traveling by boats and canoes to use live jackets and avoid overcrowded boats.