Nine bodies, including two women and seven men, have been recovered after a devastating boat accident in Gbajibo, Niger State. The victims were part of a group of approximately 300 passengers traveling from Mundi Community to the Maulid celebration when the tragedy occurred on Tuesday night.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed that immediate rescue efforts saved 150 passengers, but another 150 individuals remain unaccounted for following the capsizing of the boat, which primarily carried women and children.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Director General of NSEMA disclosed that search and rescue operations continue as efforts are made to locate additional victims from the River Niger. “Nine corpses have been recovered in the Gbajibo boat accident: two females and seven males,” the official reported.
The incident took place around 8:30 p.m. on October 1, 2024, on the River Niger, upstream of the Jebba Dam in Mokwa Local Government Area. The boat, heavily laden with passengers, was en route to the Maulid celebration.
NSEMA is working alongside the State Ministry of Transport, the Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, local divers, and community volunteers to oversee the ongoing search and rescue operations.
As the community waits for further updates, the tragedy underscores the critical hazards associated with overcrowded boats and the pressing need for enhanced safety regulations to avoid future incidents.
