A boat conveying over three hundred (300) people has capsised at Gbajibo in Mokwa Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State with 150 Maulud celebrants missing
Gatekeepers News reports that the victims are mostly women and children who left Mundi Community for Gbajibo to attend an Islamic celebration, Maulub.
The boat capsized midway on Tuesday around 8:30 pm, a short distance away from the victims’ destination.
According to; local divers successfully rescued some victims alive.
Director General of Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah confirmed the accident through a statement released.
He said, “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.”
The DG noted that over 150 persons had been rescued alive, adding that search and rescue operations were still ongoing to rescue more victims.
He said, “Thanks to the prompt response from the community volunteers, over 150 persons have been rescued alive so far. The search and rescue operation is still ongoing to locate more survivors, and the general public will be provided with the update.”
