A boat carrying 150 passengers returning from Malali Market in Kebbi state, hit branch of a tree, capsized along River Niger and killed seven passengers while over 100 others are missing as at the time of going to press.
Seven other passengers who were rescued are receiving treatment at Ngaski local government of the state.
Ngaski Local Government Area is two hours journey from the river where the incident happened.
The Coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in-charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States, Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammad, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ngaski today, Saturday, that efforts were on going to rescue the missing passengers.
Sulaiman Muhammad said that fishermen and officials of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) were coordinating the rescue operation.
“As soon as we got the hint of the mishap, we put a call to the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority to help rescue the missing passengers.
“All the people on board were missing, but as rescue and search continued wide and deep of the river, 14 people were discovered; seven died and seven have been taken to Ngaski Hospital.” [myad]
