11 Market Women Die In Niger Boat Mishap

No fewer than 11 women died at the weekend in a boat mishap during a voyage between Danchitagi in Lavun local government area  and Gbara in Mokwa local government area of Niger State.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred when some women were coming back from Danchitagi market, a few kilometers to Gbara.

It was learnt that the mishap occurred shortly after a heavy downpour that was accompanied by windstorm, making the driver of the boat to lose control and hit a wood underneath the river surface.

A source said the boat was carrying about 48 passengers but 37 were  rescued by divers who were  fishing  at the time.

It was learnt that most of the passengers were from Gazhe in Edati local government area who boarded the boat to Gbara area from the market.

Director general of Niger Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) Shmed Inga said the agency received the report of the mishap.

He said; “They were said to be returning from Danchitagi village market  (Lavun LGA) which  comes up every Friday. Tt the time of this report, 37 persons survived, six bodies were recovered and five were missing. The incident was as a result of heavy downpour which was accompanied by violent windstorm,   search and rescue operations are still ongoing.”