A devastating boat accident has occurred along the Dambo-Ebuchi sections of River Niger, resulting in the loss of multiple lives.
The boat, which was carrying over 200 passengers, including market women and farm labourers, was headed to the Katcha weekly market in Niger State when it capsized.
Eyewitnesses describe the chaotic scene as the boat, owned by Musa Dangana, threw all on board into the water. Rescue efforts are underway, with local divers working tirelessly to recover the bodies of the victims.
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As of now, eight bodies have been recovered, while search and rescue operations continue to locate the remaining passengers.
This tragic incident comes just months after a similar one occurred on the Muwo Gbajibo River in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, resulting in the loss of many lives. Preliminary reports indicate that none of the passengers were wearing life jackets at the time of the accident, which may have contributed to the high number of casualties.
The National Inland Waterways (NIWA) has confirmed the incident, with Head of Media Department, Suleman Makama, stating that they are still investigating to ascertain the number of people involved and the cause of the accident.
Nigeria has recorded several boat accidents in the last year, leading to numerous deaths. The country’s waterways authority has tried to prohibit night-time travel on rivers and overloaded vessels, but crews often break regulations.