By: TUNDE BOLAJI MINNA.
The Director General Niger State Emergency Management Agency NSEMA, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah has confirmed a boat mishap incident with 13 lives lost while 26 people were succesfully recovered in Shiroro local government area of the state.
It was reported that the incident occurred around 11:45 in the morning around Kwata heading to Zumba market on Saturday when a boat loaded with goods and passengers capsized on their way to weekly market.
According to a statement issued by the director Information and Special Duties, Dr Ibrahim Hussaini, said that the driver and few passengers were rescued with one of them been admitted in General Hospital Kuta has been discharged.
He added that the number of casualties is yet to be ascertain as search and rescue operations are still on going by the NSEMA desk officers, local divers and volunteers in the community.
It could be recalled that the Niger state government through NSEMA, National Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission N-HYPPADEC and NIWA among others have distributed life jackets to various riverine communities but enforcement to no avail, hence the high rates of casualties when boat mishap occurred.
