40 Declared Missing In Another Niger Boat Mishap

A total of 40 people were reported missing yesterday in another boat mishap along River Niger between Niger and Kogi States.

Our correspondent gathered that the boat was moving from Eve community in Kogi State, conveying marketers to Katcha Market in Niger State.

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency director-general, Abdullahi Baba Arah, said the agency received a report of the mishap, involving almost 50 passengers.

“NSEMA is directing and monitoring search and rescue operations in collaboration with Agaie local government emergency committee, local divers and other community volunteers.  Twenty-two bodies have been recovered, and eight persons have been rescued alive,” he said.

He said 18 of the bodies recovered were from Kogi  while four were from Akwanu community in Agaie local government area of Niger State, adding that the search and rescue operation was still ongoing to locate more survivors.