The Director General of Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Comrade Abdullahi Baba Ara, disclosed that 32 persons have been confirmed dead in a boat accident that occurred in the Gausawa community in Malale ward of Borgu Local Government Area of the state
He made this known in an interview with BBC Hausa on Thursday.
Ara, stated that the incident occurred on Tuesday before noon, adding that the boat was carrying about 90 passengers, including women and children.
He further stated that the boat departed from Tungan Sule in Shagunu ward with about 90 passengers on board, en route to Dugga for a condolence visit.
He said ” We have finished the rescue operations in Borgu. We have rescued 50, although few are still receiving medical attention, 32 death bodies have been recovered, we have conducted funeral prayers for them, 8 are still missing.”
When asked if there is any hope of getting the remaining 8, he answered ” probably, with God, nothing is impossible.”
Ara, said the caused of the accident was overloading and that the boat collided with a tree stump inside the water which led to the tragic incident.
“Overloading and collision with the tree stump are believed to be the causes of the mishap,” he said.
