50 die in Niger boat mishap

Three die in boat mishap in Rivers

No fewer than 50 persons have died in a boat mishap in Kiri village, Munya local government area of Niger State.

The victims were reportedly going to Zumba market in Shiroro local government on Sunday morning when the accident occurred. 

About 60 people were said to have boarded the boat, including men, women, youth and children but only 50 bodies have been found as at the time of filing this report.

Divers have been engaged to search for the remaining bodies.

It was gathered that the heavy rainfall in the early hours of Sunday may have caused the capsizing of the boat.

The Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Mallam Hussaini confirmed the incident saying that there were 60 passengers on board out of which four persons were rescued alive, while the whereabout of others remain unknown.

The Niger state Police Command said that a team of Police Marine have been sent to the area and are still searching for the bodies of the victims.