60 Dead, 150 Rescued, 90 Still Missing In Niger State Overcrowded Boat Mishap ~ OsazuwaAkonedo
60 Dead, 150 Rescued, 90 Still Missing In Niger State Overcrowded Boat Mishap ~ OsazuwaAkonedo #boatmishap #Gbajibo #Maulud #Mokwa #Mundi #Niger #Nigeria #NSEMA https://osazuwaakonedo.news/60-dead-150-rescued-90-still-missing-in-niger-state-overcrowded-boat-mishap/03/10/2024/ #Issues Published: October 3rd, 2024 Reshared: October 3, 2024 9:00 pm It was a black Tuesday at the late hours of Nigeria 64th Independence Day Celebration
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00:00It was a black Tuesday at the last hours of Nigeria's 64th Independence Day celebration
00:05as overcrowded boats with estimated 300 persons on board apparently and entirely without safety
00:11jackets capsized at River Niger upstream of Jemba Dam when the boat that was conveying
00:16the victims from Mundi village for Mulu celebration turned upside down at Majibu Community in
00:22Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
00:26Local Government Authority in Mokwa Council Area said over 60 persons were recovered from
00:31river lifeless by local divers who arrived the scene of the accident earlier when the
00:35incident occurred.
00:37But the National Emergency Agency, NEMA said only 16 persons were confirmed dead on Wednesday.
00:43But on Thursday, the agency said more 8 dead bodies were recovered from the river, bringing
00:48the NEMA figure to 24.
00:51NEMA in Niger State also stated on Wednesday that over 150 persons were rescued alive from
00:57the boat accident that reportedly occurred around 8 p.m. on Tuesday night.
01:02Over 300 persons were said to be on board the wooden boat when it capsized into the
01:08River Niger.
01:09Channel's television in a post few hours ago published a video it said it exclusively obtained
01:15in which persons of the apparent victims were seen in large overcrowded manner sitting inside
01:20a very long edging wooden boat.
01:23According to the TV station, the video was taken before the boat capsized.
01:29The video showed the boat users during the daytime.
01:32A statement issued by Amubaka Dakani, the Press Secretary to the Council Chairman of
01:37Mokwa Local Government, it was reported that over 300 passengers were on board when the
01:43boat capsized in Majibu Community area of River Niger.
01:48Dakani said that the boat was en route from Mundi to Majibu for the annual Mulu celebration
01:53when the accident occurred.
01:56The press release also mentioned that Council Chairman Abdullahi Mureji confirmed the recovery
02:01of around 60 bodies, along with the discovery of 10 survivors, adding that rescue efforts
02:07are ongoing in collaboration with the State Emergency Management Agency and local residents
02:14to recover others who remain missing.
02:17In September 2023, a similar boat carrying over 50 passengers capsized, resulting in
02:23the deaths of 24 individuals who were on their way to harvest crops.
02:29The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Aunt Emma Abdullahi Baba
02:35Ara, shared details about the accident.
02:39He explained that the boat was on the River Niger near the Jeba Dam when it capsized.
02:44The incident happened in the Majibu community in Mokwa at about 8.30pm on Tuesday.
02:51The boat was returning from Mundi with almost 300 passengers, mostly women and children,
02:57who had attended a Mulu celebration.
03:00Aunt Emma is working hard to find more survivors, teaming up with the State Ministry of Transport,
03:07local emergency committees, divers, and volunteers from the community.
03:13Thanks to their quick actions, over 150 people have been rescued so far.
03:19Just last week, the Deputy Governor of the state, Conrad Yakumu Gaba, mentioned that
03:26182 people had lost their lives in boat accidents across Niger State over the past three years.
03:33He shared this during an event for World Maritime Day in Mina, where he also announced the distribution
03:39of 33 fiberglass boats to help make water travel safer.
03:44Niger State Government has commiserated with the bereaved families, saying the reoccurring
03:49rates of boat accidents in the state is worrisome.
03:53Niger State Governor, Fama Mohammed Omaru Bagu expresses sadness over the boat mishap
03:59that occurred on River Niger upstream Jeba Dam at Majibu community of Mokwa local government
04:05area, which claimed lives of many people including women and children.
04:10The former governor, in a condolence message by his chief press secretary, Bologi Ibrahim,
04:17describes the incident as unfortunate and disheartening.
04:21He says the recurring cases of boat mishaps in the state over the past few years is worrisome,
04:27pointing out that government would redouble efforts to ensure strict compliance to certain
04:31measures to tame the ugly trend.
04:34The former governor, who sympathizes with the leadership and people of Mokwa local government
04:40area over the incident, also commiserates with the family of the victims.
04:45He prays that Allah will repose the souls of the departed, comfort the bereaved and
04:50grant quick recovery to those injured.
04:53It was reported that a boat conveying about 300 people, mostly women and children, was
04:59sailing from Mundi community for Mouloud celebration, capsized on River Niger upstream
05:05Jeba Dam at Majibu community, Mokwa local government area.
05:10The Niger State Emergency Management Agency and EMA, in collaboration with relevant MDRs,
05:17local divers and volunteers among others, are carrying out search and rescue operations.
05:23About 150 people have been rescued alive so far, while 16 corpses have been recovered.
05:30The government press release reads as issued on Thursday.