22 passengers and a boat capsize in Niger

A boat travelling from Kasabu hamlet in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State to Yauri in Kebbi State collapsed while carrying about 22 passengers.

Alhaji Salihu Garba, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency’s (NSEMA) managing director general, revealed this to the OBASANJO NEWS24 on Monday in Minna.

According to him, the boat accident that happened on Monday between 11 am and 12 pm was reported to the agency.

He claims that one of the accident’s survivors stated that there are roughly 22 persons on board the boat.

According to him, local boat owners and divers were still conducting search and rescue operations under the direction of the agency’s desk officer in Agwara.

He added that no passenger has yet been located and that the accident occurred on the day of the Yauri market.

Families wouldn’t be allowed to declare their missing relatives until after the market, Garba continued.

He added that it often takes a drowned individual 24 hours to surface above the water.

He said that water hyacinth and powerful waves were what caused the catastrophe.