Ten persons have drowned in a boat mishap in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, on on Thursday evening.
Secretary, Coalition of Shiroro Associations, Saidu Salihu, disclosed that the incident occurred around 4pm on Thursday.
He said the victims, who were mainly traders, were conveying goods from Zongoru community of Bassa ward to Gijiwa ahead of Friday market in Kuta, headquarters of Shiroro, when the tragic incident happened.
Salihu said 32 persons were on board out of which 10 persons lost their lives while 22 were rescued by local divers.
Confirming the incident, Head of Information and Special Duties, Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Audu, said, “NSEMA has received a report of a boat mishap in Shiroro, LGA yesterday (Thursday), November 16, 2023. In a harrowing incident between 1:30 pm and 2:00 pm, a boat en route from Zangoro Bassa/Kukoki Ward terminal to Gijiwa/Kato Ward terminal in Shiroro Local Government Area capsized, sending shockwaves of grief to the families of the victims.”
But he said 34 people were on board, including 20 male passengers and 14 female passengers.
He added that eight female children, four female adults and 18 male adults were on board the ill-fated boat.
Audu confirmed that 10 people lost their lives while 24 others were rescued.
He gave the names of those who lost their lives as Farida Muntari, Sharhabila Sagir, Abubakar Sadiq, Na’ima Ibrahim, Amina, Safaratu Ibrahim, Sadiq Ibrahim, Rafiya Yakubu, and two unidentified victims.
He said so far, one body had been recovered, while the search for others was ongoing.
He attributed the cause of the accident to water hyacinth, strong waves, and a grafting tree.
