At
least 42 people were drowned in a boat mishap on River Niger close to
Malilli Village in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on
September 27, 2013, Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 100 others on board were missing in the wreckage which occurred at about 2 p.m.
Mr.
Ibrahim Hussaini, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Niger State
Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), confirmed the incident in a
telephone interview on September 28, 2013, Saturday.
He
said the details were sketchy, but the boat which had over 150
passengers capsized midway and drowned 42 people, while 100 others were
missing.
The
spokesman said that local divers from Malili Village had recovered 42
corpses, while efforts were being intensified to rescue possible
survivors or the corpse of those drowned.
“At the moment search and rescue is ongoing on the river.
“I
will make the details of the incident later, but the agency has
dispatch its officers to assist the villagers in the
rescue efforts,’’
he said.
Mr.
Hussaini said the recovered corpses would be given mass burial close to
the river bank, adding that neighbouring villages had been alerted to
look out for floating corpses.
Saidu Ndako, the Secretary to the State Government, also confirmed the boat mishap.
“I
received the information late in the night that a boat had capsized and
42 persons have drowned in the incident, while rescue operation is
ongoing.
“We
believe that the boat was overload because the boat’s capacity was put
at 60 passengers, but over 150 passengers were said to be on board
during the incident.
“The debris in the swollen river may also have been responsible for the incident,” Mr. Ndako said.
Mr.
Ndako said that the government condoled with the family of those who
had lost their loved ones, and pray that Allah grant them the fortitude
to bear the irreparable loss.
(NAN)
