At least 150 passengers are believed to be missing following a tragic boat accident in the Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State. The incident occurred on October 1, 2024, during a journey to celebrate Maulid, involving a boat that was transporting over 300 individuals, predominantly women and children.
The boat capsized while en route from Mundi Community to Gbajibo Community for the Maulid festival. Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), confirmed the accident in a statement released on Wednesday. He indicated that rescue operations are currently underway to locate additional survivors.
Baba-Arah noted that NSEMA was informed of the boat accident at approximately 8:30 PM along the River Niger, upstream of the Jebba Dam, near Gbajibo Community in Mokwa LGA.
“The boat, which was transporting about 300 passengers, mainly women and children from Mundi Community, was on its way to Gbajibo for the Maulid celebration,” he stated.
NSEMA is coordinating search and rescue efforts in collaboration with the State Ministry of Transport, the Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, local divers, and community volunteers. Thanks to the quick actions of local volunteers, over 150 individuals have been rescued alive so far.
Baba-Arah reassured the public that the search and rescue operations are ongoing, with further updates to be provided as more survivors are found.
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