Disaster Strikes Maulud Celebration: 60 Confirmed Dead, Rescue Mission For Missing Continues!

At least 60 bodies have been recovered after a boat carrying around 300 passengers tragically capsized on the Gbajibo River in Niger State. The accident took place near Mokwa Local Government Area as the passengers were traveling from Mundi to Gbajibo for the annual Maulud celebration on the evening of October 1.

Abubakar Dakani, Press Secretary to the Mokwa Council Chairman, confirmed the incident, noting the boat capsized in a particularly dangerous stretch of the river. Mokwa Council Chairman Abdullahi Muregi reported that 60 bodies have been found, while 10 survivors were rescued.

Rescue efforts, spearheaded by the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and local volunteers, are ongoing as many passengers remain missing. Abdullahi Baba-Arah, Director-General of NSEMA, revealed that 150 people were rescued soon after the accident, but many are still unaccounted for. Most of the victims were women and children traveling for the Maulud celebration.

The cause of the capsizing is still unknown. However, local officials and emergency teams, including NSEMA and the state Ministry of Transport, are closely monitoring the search and rescue operations.

This tragedy follows a rise in boat accidents and flooding incidents in Niger State, raising serious concerns over waterway safety in the region.