<h4>By Kabiru Dogon Daji
Birnin Kebbi</h4>
No fewer than 20 people have been reported dead, as a boat conveying passengers from Jeribabo village in Yauri local government area of kebbi state enroute Teteku village in Niger state capsised in the River Niger.
Confirming the report to newsmen, the Area Manager in charge of Yauri National Inland Water Ways, Bissallah Abdullahi, explained that the boat was said to have carried 34 passengers on board when it collided with a tree beneath the river bank.
According to him, the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, explaining that 16 dead bodies have so far been recovered, 19 rescued alive while 4 were still missing at the time of filling this report.
Eye witness account said the boat was conveying 54 passengers and were navigating through the river for a spiritual visit to Teteku village in Auna local government area of Niger state, where holy inscriptions were said to have been written on a hill beside the river bank.
“The name of Holy Prophet Muhammad, an inscription of his shoes, hat and other Arabic signs were seen on the hill, reason why people on daily basis troop to the scene to perform ritual,” a source said.