10 die in Niger boat mishap

No fewer than 10 persons have been confirmed dead in a boat mishap in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The Head of Relief and Rehabilitation in the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Garba Salihu, disclosed this in Minna, the state capital, on Friday.

Salihu said the boat mishap occurred at about 2 p.m. in Shiroro on Thursday, adding that the incident was caused by water hyacinth, strong waves, and a grafting tree.

He said the boat left Zangoro Bassa/Kukoki ward terminal to Gijiwa/Kato ward terminal in Shiroro Local Government Area where it capsized.

Salihu disclosed that 34 passengers were on the boat with 20 male and 14 female.

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He said 24 survivors had been rescued and one body recovered, adding that a search and rescue operation was ongoing to recover the remaining missing persons.

The NSEMA official stated that those who lost their lives were Farida Muntari, Sharhabila Sagir, Abubakar Sadiq, Na’ima Ibrahim, Amina, Safaratu Ibrahim, Sadiq Ibrahim, Rafiya Yakubu, and other two bodies unidentified.

Salihu said the boat had six drivers who were Dahiru Yusuf, Sa’idu Shu’aibu, Ahmadu Garba, Sa’idu Garba, Abdulaziz Yahaya, and Lukuman Sani.

He added that the Chairman of Shiroro LGA alongside the agency desk officer had visited the scene of the incident.

The Star