At least 24 persons, mostly women and children, have died while several others are missing after a boat capsized in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
It was gathered that the boat was carrying over 100 persons onboard including women and children from adjoining communities to New Gbajibo Resettlement heading to Old Gbajibo.
The victims who were said to be from Gbajibo, Ekwa and Yankyade communities were going for farming activities when the incident occurred between 7:30 and 8 on Sunday morning, September 10, 2023.
The council chairman, Jibrim Muregi, who confirmed the accident, however, said the actual number of travellers cannot be ascertained at the moment.
He confirmed that 21 bodies were recovered while a combined rescue operation by marine police and local divers in collaboration with Niger State Emergency Management Agency is ongoing.
