22 drown as boat capsizes in Niger, six bodies recovered

No fewer than 22 passengers drowned on Monday in a boat accident in Niger State.

The victims were said to be going from Kasabu village in the Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State to Yauri in Kebbi State, on Monday morning when the boat capsized due to a downpour accompanied by heavy wind.

As of Tuesday night, a search and rescue team had only recovered six bodies, including that of a Kebbi pastor, based in Niger State.

According to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, most of the victims were going to transact at the Monday Market in Yauri, Kebbi State when the incident occurred.

The spokesman for NSEMA, Hussaine Ibrahim, said most of the victims were believed not to have worn lifejackets.

“We received a report from our desk officers in Agwara of the boat incident that occurred on Monday between 11am. and 12am.

“Since morning, there has been serious rain there and it has made it difficult for the search and rescue team to achieve much results.

“They have been in the water since morning; the rain has been making things difficult. Our man on the ground said they recovered more bodies today.

“They have been on the water since morning but the rain disrupted the operation. They recovered four bodies in the morning today and recovered two this evening. The victims are from Niger State but one of them is from Zuru in Kebbi State,” Ibrahim said.

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