Boat capsizes in Niger, 8 confirmed dead, others missing

The National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has confirmed that at least eight persons on Friday morning were recovered dead after a boat accident that occurred near the Dambo-Ebuchi section of the River Niger.

The Head of the Media Department of NIWA, Mr Suleman Makama, confirmed the incident in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Makama said the boat accident involved no fewer than 200 passengers including market women and farm labourers being conveyed from Lokoja in Kogi to the Katcha weekly market in Niger State.

He added that the passengers, mostly market women and labourers, were on their way to the market in Niger State when the boat capsized on the Dambo-Ebuchi sections of River Niger.

“It’s true that there was a boat mishap on Friday morning involving quite a number of women going to the market in Niger State.

“We are still investigating to ascertain the number of people involved as well as what led to the accident,” Makama said