The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has retrieved an additional 16 dead from the sad boat accident in Gbajibo, Niger State.
The newly retrieved bodies included two ladies and 14 males, adding to the prior finding of nine dead—two females and seven males, obringing the total number of recovered victims to 25.
NSEMA Director-General Abdullahi Baba Arah confirmed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, providing an update on the ongoing search for the missing passengers.
According to Arah, the latest recovery came after 150 individuals were declared missing following the tragedy.
“Sixteen corpses have been recovered so far, made up of two females and 14 males,” he said. Earlier, nine bodies were recovered, consisting of two females and seven males.
The terrible incident included a boat carrying 300 Mundi Community members who were on their way to Gbajibo for the Maulid celebration when calamity struck.
While 150 passengers were promptly rescued, a further 150 were reported missing.
Arah stated that the boat was overloaded with women and children, and search-and-rescue activities are still underway to locate the remaining passengers.
“NSEMA is leading the search-and-rescue operations in collaboration with the State Ministry of Transport, the Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, local divers, and community volunteers,” the DG added.
The rescue attempts continue as the state mourns the deaths of everyone involved in the horrific disaster.
