The Niger State Emergency Management Agency, (NSEMA) has confirmed that 39 passengers were on board in the ill-fated boat that was involved in an accident last Saturday around Gini, Zumba, in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
Confirming the information yesterday in a release signed and made available to journalists in Minna was the Director General of NSEMA, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah, stressing that 13 dead bodies (8 women, 3 men and 2 children) were also recovered and that they have been buried almost immediately.
It was reported that the incident occurred around 11:45am on Saturday around Kwata heading to Zumba market when a passenger boat loaded with some farm produce and passengers on board the ill- fated boat capsized on their way to the weekly market, reports Nigerian Tribune.
A statement issued by the director Information and Special Duties, Dr. Ibrahim Audu Hussaini, noted that the driver and few passengers were rescued with one of them admitted, treated and later discharged at the General Hospital Kuta, Shiroro LGA.
He added that the numbers of casualties were yet to be ascertained as search and rescue operations were still ongoing by the NSEMA desk officers, local divers and volunteers in the affected community.
It would be recalled that the Niger state government through NSEMA, National Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission N-HYPPADEC and NIWA among others have distributed life jackets to various riverine communities but to enforce it usage has been almost impossible, hence the high rates of casualties when the boat accident occurred.
