Niger Boat Mishap: 30 Bodies Recovered By Local Divers, 7 Still Missing

iexclusive News Nigeria reports that local divers have recovered 30 bodies of people killed in a boat accident in Niger state late Saturday.

A boat conveying about 100 people including women and children capsized midway at about 6:00 pm on Saturday when the villagers were returning from a local market in Zumba in Shiroro local government area of the state.

The Sarkin Kasuwan (Head of the Market) Zumba, Adamu Ahmed, confirmed the recovery of 30 bodies since search-and-rescue operations began Saturday night by the local divers.

He explained that the local divers are still intensifying search for more bodies even as he said that lack of support in the area of logistics from any quarter is slowing their search operation.

Another 65 people were rescued from the accident scene In Tijana, Munya council area of Niger, but seven more people remain missing.

The boat which is said to be six months old capsized in heavy windstorm on Saturday evening.

Ahmed Inga, DG state emergency management agency confirmed that about 100 people were on board of the capsized boat

The victims were from about seven communities, all in Munya local government where armed bandits have intensified their attacks on the people.

This online news medium gathered that most of the victims were some returnees who had earlier fled their homes with their children due to bandit attacks.

Adamu said, “Some of the victims were going back to the village to go and get some food items and return back to Zumba where they are taking refuge as a result of bandits activities in the affected communities.”