Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago has expressed dismay at the Sunday boat tragedy that killed numerous lives in the state’s Mokwa Local Government Area.
He demanded that anyone boarding a boat in the state wear a life jacket and denounced overcrowding on any boat embarking on a tour.
Twenty-four individuals have been reported dead, the most of them are women and children, and over 30 people have been rescued, while a combined rescue operation by marine police and local divers in coordination with the Niger State Emergency Management Agency is still underway.
The governor, who stated through his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, on Sunday, termed the disaster as both awful and undesired.
“This is a shocking and heartbreaking situation for the people of the affected communities, and I share their anguish.” “I pray to Allah to grant the deceased Aljannah Firdausi,” said the message.
While commiserating with the victims’ families, the governor urged the Niger State Emergency Management Agency to do all was necessary to alleviate the people’s pain.
Many more were reported missing following the boat catastrophe, which occurred between 7.30 and 8 a.m.
According to reports, the catastrophe has left the impacted towns in mourning as locals search for the whereabouts of their loved ones.
The number of people that boarded the ill-fated boat was still unknown at the time this story was written.
Furthermore, the cause of the boat tragedy remained unexplained, despite reports from the region that the passengers were not wearing any life jackets at the time of the incident.
Jibrim Muregi, Chairman of Mokwa Local Government Area, confirmed the disaster over the phone and said divers were working feverishly to rescue victims and find additional bodies.
The tragedy occurred in the towns between Jebba and Kainji dams in Niger State’s Mokwa Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Salihu Garba, NSEMA’s Overseeing Director-General General, said in a statement on Sunday that the agency got a report of a boat accident and had since employed divers to begin search and rescue operations.
“At the moment, the agency is conducting search, rescue, and recovery operations at the scene of the incident in collaboration with the Mokwa LG authority and community divers.” “So far, 24 bodies have been recovered, and over 30 people have been rescued as the operation continues,” he said.
