In a devastating accident, at least 14 bodies have been recovered after a boat carrying 300 passengers capsized on the River Niger late Tuesday night.
The ill-fated boat, which was returning from a Maulud Nabiyyi celebration in Mokwa Local Government, faced tragedy when it overturned near Jebba Dam around 8:30 pm.
Local divers and emergency responders sprang into action, managing to rescue 150 passengers.
However, the fate of the remaining passengers, many of whom were from Kwara State, remains uncertain as search and rescue efforts continue.
Alhaji Nura Tanko, spokesperson for the N-Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), confirmed that officials from the commission have joined the rescue mission, while Managing Director Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa is set to assess the situation in Mokwa.
Though the exact cause of the mishap remains unclear, authorities suspect overloading. As families await news of their loved ones, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah, Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), emphasized the urgent priority:
“Our concern is not who was on the boat but how many more lives we can still save.”
The search continues as the region reels from the disaster.
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