The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has confirmed that a boat carrying at least 300 passengers capsized on the River Niger, upstream of Jebba Dam, near the Gbajibo community in Mokwa Local Government Area.
According to the agency, around 150 passengers have been rescued so far, while efforts continue to locate the remaining individuals.
The incident occurred on the night of October 1, 2024, around 8:30 p.m.
In a statement signed by NSEMA’s Director General, Abdullahi Baba Arah, it was revealed that the boat had departed from the Mundi community with nearly 300 passengers, primarily women and children, who were heading to Gbajibo for a Maulid celebration.
Arah stated that NSEMA is coordinating and overseeing search and rescue efforts in collaboration with the State Ministry of Transport, Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, local divers, and community volunteers.
“Thanks to the swift response from local volunteers, over 150 people have been rescued alive so far,” the statement read.
The search and rescue operation remains ongoing, and the public will be updated as more survivors are found.
