The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arab, says 22 people have so far been confirmed dead in a boat mishap that occurred Thursday morning on River Niger.
Baba – Arab, who confirmed this in a statement said the mishap occurred between Baro and Akwanu communities of Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State.
He stated that 18 people of the dead persons were from Kogi state while the remaining four persons were inhabitants of Akwanu community in Agaie LGA in Niger.
He said the boat was heading to Katchia market when the incident occurred.
He noted that the boat also passed through Ebe Community in Kogi State with about 50 passengers on board.
He said that staff of NSEMA, Agaie Local Government Emergency Committee, local divers, and other community volunteers, had been directing search and rescue operations.
“So far, 22 bodies have been recovered from the water while eight people were said to have survived the unfortunate incident”, he added.
Baba-Arab said that the search and rescue operation was still ongoing to locate more survivors.
He assured that more information would be made public as they unfold.