A tragic boat capsizing incident in Mokwa local government area of Niger State has left over 150 people missing. The disaster occurred around 8:30 PM on Independence Day when a boat carrying approximately 300 passengers, primarily women and children, capsized on the Niger River upstream of the Jebba Dam. The passengers were en route from the Mundi community to celebrate the Maulid festival at Gbajibo.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed the incident, stating that community volunteers quickly mobilized to rescue over 150 individuals who are now safe. NSEMA Director General Abdullahi Baba Arah reported that search and rescue operations are ongoing, involving collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, local emergency committees, and divers to locate any additional survivors and recover the bodies of those lost.
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This incident comes just a week after the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) distributed 33 fiberglass boats to nine states in an effort to enhance safety and prevent such accidents. The Niger State government previously revealed that 182 individuals have died due to boat mishaps across the state in the past three years, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety measures.
