A boat carrying more than 50 passengers overturned on the River Kaduna in Niger State, killing at least 33 people, including women and children.
The boat reportedly sank halfway between Danchitagi hamlet in Lavun Local Government and Gbara, Mokwa Local Government Area yesterday.
On the phone, a number of sources confirmed that some of the passengers were traders going home from the weekly Danchitagi market while others were going home after attending a wedding in one of the nearby settlements.
Goods worth millions of naira were also reportedly lost in the process.
Villagers also reported that 17 out of over 50 persons in the boat had been rescued so far adding that rescue operations were still ongoing.
“For now, out of over 50 passengers in that boat, only 17 people have been rescued alive. We believe the rest are no more alive because they have been in the water for several hours. The water level is also high now because of rainfall. We are still doing our best to look for the remaining people. But the chance of their survival is not assured,” One of the local divers said.
According to information obtained, a violent windstorm and significant rainfall contributed to the tragedy.
Reports reveals that the victims were primarily residents of the riverine settlements of Muregi, Gbara, Gazhe, and Tadima, among others.
Some of the victims who had been saved were transferred to the rural hospital in Gbara for treatment.
The director general of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Ahmed Ibrahim Inga, confirmed the occurrence adding that the agency had started rescue operations in an effort to save the victims’ lives.
Alhaji Mohammed Saba, the District Head of Gbara, who also confirmed the occurrence, stated that there were at least 60 passengers aboard the boat.
