Niger Boat Mishap: Death Toll Rises To 24 As Divers Recover 8 More Bodies

On Thursday, divers recovered eight additional bodies from the river where a passenger boat carrying Mawlid celebrants capsized near Gbajibo in the Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.

The recovery brings the total number of deaths to 24, according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency.

Daily Trust had reported how a boat which took off from Mundi community capsized a short distance to the victims’ destination.

The Director General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah, said 16 bodies of the victims, comprising 2 female and 14 men had earlier been recovered on Wednesday and buried at Gbajibo Community.

Arah said search and rescue operation was still ongoing in collaboration with officials of the State Emergency Management Agency and local divers.