A wooden boat carrying 34 passengers has tragically capsized in the regions of Agwara in Niger and Yauri in Kebbi states, located in Nigeria. The ill-fated incident occurred when the boat, transporting passengers from Gebbe, Kasabo, and other water bus stops to the Yauri market, was just a short distance away from its destination. The calamity was attributed to severe weather conditions, particularly a storm that struck the area.
Local divers promptly mobilized to the scene to assess the situation and attempt rescues. Regrettably, the outcome is sobering, as they managed to rescue only seven passengers, leaving an alarming 27 individuals still unaccounted for. The majority of the victims hail from the neighboring Niger and Kebbi states in Nigeria.
Speaking about the incident, the Managing Director of the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), Abubakar Yelwa, confirmed these distressing statistics. He emphasized that the loss of life could have been reduced if more passengers had been wearing life jackets, underlining the importance of this safety gear. He also pledged that the commission would explore ways to ensure a continued distribution of life jackets and advocate for their use.
Intensive efforts are underway to locate the missing passengers and provide aid in this dire situation.