In adherence to Islamic law, the Government of Niger State has conducted the burial of ten individuals who lost their lives in a boat accident last Thursday.
Those who lost their lives and were given a mass burial included no fewer than eight of the ten children who were aboard the boat.
Last Thursday, a total of 34 individuals, including 10 children and 24 adults, set sail on the ill-fated boat from the Zangoro Bassa/Kukoki Ward terminal to the Gijiwa/Kato Ward terminal in Shiroro Local Government Area.
In an update on the accident on Monday, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency disclosed that the accident was attributed to the presence of water hyacinth, strong waves, and submerged trees.
The Director of Relief and Rehabilitation of NSEMA, Salihu Garba, gave the names of the fatalities saying ’10 lives were lost, including Farida Muntari, Sharhabila Sagir, Abubakar Sadiq, Na’ima Ibrahim, Amina, Safaratu Ibrahim, Sadiq Ibrahim, Rafiya Yakubu, and two unidentified victims.’
‘The boat had six drivers, including Dahiru Yusuf, Sa’idu Shu’aibu, Ahmadu Garba, Sa’idu Garba, Abdulaziz Yahaya, and Lukuman Sani.’
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He disclosed that the survivors included, Surajo Ibrahim (Zangoro), Ibrahim Wakili Nababa (Zangoro), Yahaya Yahuza (Zangoro), Murtala Sarki (Zangoro)Yakubu Hamza (Zangoro) and Sahabi Abdullahi (Zangoro).
Others are Mustafa Suleiman (Zangoro), Ramadan Suleiman (Zangoro), Tanimu Kure (Zangoro), Huzairu Tanimu From (Zangoro), Muntari Kure (Zangoro), Kankanuwa Tanimu (Zangoro), Hussaina Tanimu (Zangoro) Sami’a Lukuman (Zangoro), Zaliha Tanimu (Zangoro) and Angulu Abdulaziz (Zangoro).
The victims, many of whom were traders, were en route from the Zongoru Community of Bassa Ward to Gijiwa, in preparation for the Friday market in Kuta, the headquarters of Shiroro LGA, when the incident took place.
According to reports, 22 individuals were rescued from the 34 people who were on board, but 10 of them tragically lost their lives. Garba stated that the agency has not yet identified two of the deceased individuals, and all of them were from Zangoro.
He also stated that there were 24 adult men and women, as well as 10 male and female children on the boat when it overturned. Presently, efforts are being made to recover two of the deceased.