Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has confirmed that a Boat conveying over 50 passengers from Ebe community in Kogi State, heading to Katcha market, capsized and killed 22 passengers in Akwanu community in Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State.
The incident, THE WHISTLER learnt, occurred on Thursday midnight.
In a statement sent to THE WHISTLER by the agency’s spokesman, Ibrahim Hussain, the agency’s Director-General, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed that the boat was sailing from Ebe village in Kogi to Katcha Market with over 50 passengers.
“NSEMA has received a report of a boat mishap that occurred last night,28 November 2024,around 2.00 am. The boat was sailing from Ebe Community of Kogi state with a population of almost 50 passengers heading to the Katcha market,” he said.
The DG stated that community volunteers were able to rescue 8 people, adding that a search and rescue operation was ongoing.
“NSEMA is directing and monitoring search and rescue operations in collaboration with Agaie Local Government Emergency Committee, brave local divers, and other community volunteers. Thanks to the prompt response from the community volunteers, 22 bodies have been recovered, and 8 persons have been rescued alive so far.
“The search and rescue operation is still ongoing to locate more survivors, and the general public will be provided with the update. 18 of the bodies recovered are from Kogi state while 4 are from Akwanu community in Agaie LGA,” he said.
