NO fewer than seven people were confirmed dead and seven hospitalised in Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State when a boat carrying 150 passengers who were returning from Malali Market capsized along River Niger.
The Coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in-charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States, Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammad, made this known in Ngaski on Saturday.
Sunday Sun gathered that rescue efforts being coordinated by fishermen and operatives of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) were still ongoing as at the time of filing this report.
The NEMA boss said, “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 onboard were declared missing initially but as rescue and search operation continued wide and deep into the river, 14 people were found. Of this number seven were brought out dead while seven were taken to Ngaski Hospital,” he said.
The accident occurred when the boat in transit carrying 150 passengers hit a tree in the water.
Ngaski Local Government Area is a two hour journey from the river where the incident happened.