Niger boat accident leads to death of 29 persons

ADEWALE  EBUNOLUWA

A boat accident has led to the death of 29 persons in Gausawa community in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

According to him, the incident occurred on Tuesday around 11.30am  when the boat, carrying 90 passengers, including women and children, capsized.

It was gathered that the boat had departed from Tungan Sule in Shagunu Ward and was heading to Dugga community for a condolence visit before it collided with a tree stump.

Baba-Arah said 29 bodies had so far been recovered, 50 persons rescued alive, while two others remained missing.

He added that search and rescue operations would continue.

“Overloading and collision with the tree stump are believed to be the causes of the mishap,” he added.