A devastating boat accident in Niger State has claimed the lives of at least 22 passengers. The incident occurred as the victims were traveling from Kasabu village in the Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State to Yauri in Kebbi State. The accident was reportedly caused by a combination of heavy rainfall and strong winds.
As of Tuesday night, a search and rescue team had managed to recover six bodies, including that of a Kebbi-based pastor residing in Niger State. Most of the victims were en route to the Monday Market in Yauri, Kebbi State, where they intended to conduct transactions.
Hussaine Ibrahim, the spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), stated that the heavy rain had made it challenging for the search and rescue team to retrieve more bodies. He noted that the victims were believed not to have been wearing life jackets during the ill-fated boat journey.
“We received a report from our desk officers in Agwara of the boat incident that occurred on Monday between 11 am and 12 pm. Since morning, there has been serious rain there, and it has made it difficult for the search and rescue team to achieve much results,” said Ibrahim.
Despite the challenging conditions, efforts continue to recover more bodies and provide support to the affected families in this tragic incident.