A tragic boat accident in Gbajibo, Niger State, has claimed the lives of nine people, as emergency workers continue their search for missing passengers. The accident occurred on Tuesday night when a boat carrying nearly 300 people capsized on the River Niger, leaving many families in despair.
The passengers, mostly women and children, were traveling from Mundi Community to attend the Maulid celebration in Gbajibo when disaster struck. According to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), 150 passengers were rescued, but another 150 remain unaccounted for.
The Director General of NSEMA, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the recovery of nine bodies so far, including two women and seven men.
“Nine corpses have been recovered in the Gbajibo boat accident. Two females and seven men,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
Baba-Arah explained that the accident occurred at around 8:30 p.m. on October 1, 2024, upstream of the Jebba Dam in Mokwa Local Government Area.
“The boat was carrying nearly 300 passengers, mostly women and children, from Mundi Community for the Maulid celebration in Gbajibo,” he added.
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Search and rescue operations are still ongoing, with local divers, community volunteers, and officials from the State Ministry of Transport and the Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee working tirelessly to locate more victims. Baba-Arah noted that every effort is being made to recover those still missing, but the task is challenging due to the strong currents in the river.
This tragedy has cast a shadow over the community, with families anxiously waiting for news about their loved ones. The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of river travel in the region, as overcrowded boats continue to be a common means of transportation.
One local resident expressed his sorrow, saying, “This is a terrible tragedy. We hope that more people will be found, and we pray for the families who have lost their loved ones.”