Boat Carrying 50 Passengers Capsizes, 33 Missing

A boat carrying fifty (50) passengers has capsized on River Kaduna of Niger State while 33 persons were reportedly drowned.

According to sources, the boat capsized yesterday (Friday) night between Danchitagi village in Lavun Local Government Area and Gbara in Mokwa Local Government Area of the state. 

The boat had carried passengers returning from a weekly Danchitagi market and others returning from a wedding from neighboring communities. 

Daily Trust reports that seventeen passengers were rescued while others are still missing. 

A local diver who spoke to Daily Trust said: “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."

Meanwhile the Niger State Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Ahmed Ibrahim Inga has confirmed the incident, adding that rescue operation had been launched by the agency.