Boat Mishap:10 Die in Shiroro LGA of Niger

No fewer than 10 persons have lost their lives in a boat mishap in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

Alhaji Garba Salihu, head of Relief and Rehabilitation in the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Friday.

He said the agency received report of a boat mishap in Shiroro council area that occurred on Nov. 16 around 2:00 pm.

The boat, according to Salihu, left Zangoro Bassa/Kukoki ward terminal to Gijiwa/Kato ward terminal in Shiroro Local Government Area where it capsized.

He said about 34 passengers were on the boat with 20 male and 14 female.

24 persons, Salihu said, had been rescued and one body recovered, adding that search and rescue operation was on-going to recover the remaining missing persons.

He gave the list of those who lost their lives to include Farida Muntari, Sharhabila Sagir, Abubakar Sadiq, Na’ima Ibrahim, Amina, Safaratu Ibrahim, Sadiq Ibrahim, Rafiya Yakubu while two bodies were unidentified.

Salihu said the boat had six drivers – Dahiru Yusuf, Sa’idu Shu’aibu, Ahmadu Garba, Sa’idu Garba, Abdulaziz Yahaya and Lukuman Sani.

He added that the boat mishap was caused by water hyacinth, strong waves and a grafting tree.

Salihu disclosed that Shiroro Local Government officials alongside the agency desk officer had visited the scene of the incident.