At least 13 bodies have been recovered after a boat accident in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. The boat, carrying passengers and goods, was heading to the Zumba weekly market when it capsized near Kwata around 11:45 a.m. on Saturday.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency, NSEMA, confirmed the development in a statement issued by its Director of Information and Special Duties, Dr Ibrahim Hussaini, on behalf of the agency’s Director General, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah.
Some passengers, including the boat operator, were rescued and taken to General Hospital Kuta, where they were treated and later discharged.
The exact number of people on the boat is still unknown, and rescue efforts are ongoing with the help of local divers and volunteers.
Authorities say the continued refusal of boat passengers and operators to use life jackets remains a major cause of high deaths during boat mishaps. This is despite several government efforts, including the distribution of life jackets by NSEMA, N-HYPPADEC, and NIWA to riverine communities.
The incident is the latest in a series of boat accidents in the state, often linked to overloading, lack of safety measures, and poor enforcement.
