NSEMA:13 bodies recovered in Niger boat mishap, dozens of passengers missing
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency, NSEMA, says it has recovered 13 bodies after a boat capsized in Kwata heading to Zumba market, in Shiroro LGA on Saturday.
Ibrahim Hussaini, the director of information and special duty of NSEMA, said in a statement on Sunday that the incident occurred around 11:45 in the morning on Saturday.
“The number of casualties is yet to be ascertained as search and rescue operations are still on going by the agency’s operatives, local divers and volunteers in the community,” the statement reads.
“The Niger state government in collaboration with NSEMA, National Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, N-HYPPADEC, and the National Inland Waterways Agency, NIWA, had earlier distributed life jackets across various riverine communities to mitigate the death from water crashes.”
Hussaini attributed the accident to the failure by boat owners and travellers to use the life jackets despite enforcement.
