A boat with its 300 people has capsized at Gbajibo in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State with 150 Maulud celebrants missing
The victims are mostly women and children who left Mundi Community for Gbajibo to attend the celebration.
The boat capsized midway on Tuesday occurred around 8.30pm a short distance away from the victims’ destination.
Locals said local divers rescued some victims alive.
The Director General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah, confirmed the accident, but did not say if lives were lost.
“NSEMA has received a report of a boat mishap that occurred last night, 1st October 2024, around 8.30 pm. on River Niger upstream Jebba dam, at Gbajibo Community in Mokwa LGA. The boat was sailing from Mundi Community with a population of almost 300 passengers, mostly women and children for Mawlid celebration at Gbajibo.
“NSEMA is directing and monitoring search and rescue operations in collaboration with the State Ministry of Transport, Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, brave local divers, and other community volunteers,” he said.
Arah said over 150 persons had been rescued alive, adding that search and rescue operations were still ongoing to rescue more victims.
