A devastating boat accident occurred in the early hours of Friday along the Dambo-Ebuchi sections of River Niger, resulting in the deaths of at least eight people. The boat, owned by Musa Dangana, was carrying over 200 passengers, including market women and farm laborers, to the Katcha weekly market when it capsized.
Eyewitnesses reported that the tragedy threw everyone on board into the water, with local divers working tirelessly to recover the bodies of the victims. So far, eight bodies have been recovered, and search and rescue operations continue as authorities strive to locate the remaining passengers.
Preliminary reports suggest that none of the passengers were wearing life jackets, a factor that likely contributed to the high death toll. This disaster follows a similar boat accident on the Muwo Gbajibo River in Mokwa Local Government Area on October 1, 2024, which also resulted in many fatalities.
Authorities have not yet issued an official statement, but an investigation is expected. The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) spokesperson, Ibrahim Hussaini, stated that he could not confirm the incident, adding that the agency’s representative in the area had been contacted to confirm the report.
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