The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has announced that over 150 people have been rescued after a tragic boat accident in the Gabjibo community of Mokwa Local Government Area.
NSEMA’s Director-General, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, credited the prompt rescue to the quick response of community volunteers. He stated that while the exact cause of the accident remains unknown, search and rescue operations are being intensified.
The incident occurred on the evening of October 1, around 8:30 pm, on the River Niger, upstream of the Jebba dam. The boat was reportedly carrying around 300 passengers, predominantly women and children, who were traveling from Mundi to Gabjibo for a Maulid celebration.
In collaboration with the state Ministry of Transport, Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, local divers, and community volunteers, the agency has been coordinating rescue efforts. Baba-Arah reassured the public that NSEMA is committed to providing accurate and timely updates as the situation unfolds.
A statement from the Press Secretary to the Council Chairman of Mokwa, Abubakar Dakani, confirmed that the boat had capsized with over 300 passengers onboard. The local government’s Chairman, Abdullahi Muregi, reported that approximately 60 bodies have been recovered so far, with 10 survivors also found.
