Six additional bodies from the October 1 boat crash in Niger State have been recovered from the river in the Gbajibo community, bringing the total number of recovered bodies to 42, according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA).
Abdullahi Baba-Arah, the Director General of NSEMA, confirmed this development on Friday, stating that rescue and search operations are ongoing to locate more victims. “From 6 PM yesterday to 10 AM this morning, six more dead bodies were recovered, bringing the total to 42 corpses,” he noted in a statement.
Over 150 passengers were reported missing after a wooden canoe, carrying more than 300 individuals, capsized in the river in Gbajibo. The boat, primarily filled with women and children, was transporting passengers to a Maulud celebration in the community.
“The boat was sailing from Mundi Community, which has a population of almost 300 passengers, mostly women and children, heading for the Maulud celebration at Gbajibo,” NSEMA reported.
The agency is coordinating search and rescue efforts with the State Ministry of Transport, Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, local divers, and other community volunteers. The operation to locate more survivors is ongoing, and updates will be provided to the public as they become available.