At least 150 passengers are feared missing following a boat accident in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
The tragic incident occurred during a Maulid celebration journey on Tuesday when the boat, carrying over 300 passengers—predominantly women and children—capsized. The passengers were traveling from Mundi Community to Gbajibo Community for the festival when disaster struck.
Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), confirmed the incident on Wednesday and stated that rescue efforts are currently underway to locate more survivors.
Baba-Arah reported, “NSEMA received information about the boat accident that took place on the night of October 1, 2024, around 8:30 PM along the River Niger, upstream of Jebba Dam, near Gbajibo Community. The boat was transporting approximately 300 passengers, mainly women and children, from Mundi Community to Gbajibo for the Maulid celebration.”
He added that NSEMA is coordinating search and rescue operations in collaboration with the State Ministry of Transport, the Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, local divers, and community volunteers.
“Thanks to the quick actions of local volunteers, over 150 people have been rescued alive so far,” he noted, assuring the public that the search and rescue operation is ongoing and that updates will be provided as more survivors are found.
