A devastating boat mishap in Niger State reportedly claimed the lives of at least 22 persons onboard, on Monday.
On Monday morning, tragedy struck as the victims, en route from Kasabu village in Niger State’s Agwara Local Government Area to Yauri in Kebbi State, saw their boat capsize amid a downpour and strong winds.
As of Tuesday night, a search and rescue operation had only succeeded in recovering six bodies, and among them was the body of a Kebbi pastor who had made his home in Niger State.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency revealed that the majority of the victims were en route to do business transactions at the Monday Market in Yauri, Kebbi State, when the tragic incident happened.
Hussaine Ibrahim, who serves as the spokesperson for NSEMA, indicated that it is thought that the majority of the victims had not donned lifejackets.
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‘We received a report from our desk officers in Agwara of the boat incident that occurred on Monday between 11am. and 12am.’
‘Since morning, there has been serious rain there and it has made it difficult for the search and rescue team to achieve much results.’
‘They have been in the water since morning; the rain has been making things difficult. Our man on the ground said they recovered more bodies today.’
‘They have been on the water since morning but the rain disrupted the operation. They recovered four bodies in the morning today and recovered two this evening. The victims are from Niger State but one of them is from Zuru in Kebbi State,’ Ibrahim said.
There is an alarming recurrence of boat capsizes, leading to loss of life, and upon thorough examination, it becomes apparent that there are often inadequacies in implementing preventive measures to aid those in distress.
It is crucial to prioritize safety gear such as life jackets, as they can serve as a lifeline, preserving the lives of victims until they can be rescued during accidents like these.