Eight Confirmed Dead, Others Missing As Boat Carrying 200 Persons Capsizes In Niger

A boat carrying more than 200 people along the Dambo-Ebuchi sections of River Niger reportedly capsized in the early hours of Friday, resulting in the loss of multiple lives.

The latest incident comes after a similar boat accident occurred on the Muwo Gbajibo River in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State on October 1, 2024, resulting in the loss of many lives.

Naija News learnt that the boat that capsized on Friday belonged to one Musa Dangana and was carrying over 200 passengers, including market women and farm labourers, en route to the Katcha weekly market.

The boat was said to have capsized, throwing all on board into the water and rescue efforts are currently underway, with local divers working to recover the bodies of the victims.

As of the time of filing this report, eight bodies have been recovered and confirmed dead, while search and rescue operations continue to locate the remaining passengers.

According to Daily Post, preliminary reports indicate that none of the passengers were wearing life jackets at the time of the accident, which may have contributed to the high number of casualties.

The authorities have yet to release an official statement on the incident.