By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
Death toll in Tuesday’s boat mishap which occurred in Mahuta riverrine community, in Agwara local government of Niger state has risen to 18 with their corpses also identified by their kit and kins.
The State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) disclosed this in a press statement made available to newsmen in Minna yesterday by its Director General, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Inga.
He said that the deceased passengers on board the ill fated boat were 15 males and three females.
Inga stated further that 13 of the deceased victims were from Maje village, in Kontagora local government of the state, while the rest were from the neighbouring Kebbi state.
He said that the remains of the victims had been buried in Yawuri yesterday in accordance with Islamic rites.
Inga said that the search and rescue operation for the yet to be recovered bodies was still ongoing as at yesterday.
“We have received a report of the boat mishap that occurred at Agwara, close to Mahuta in Agwara local government area of Niger state.
“And the incident which occurred at about 10:00am on Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017 involved a wooden boat, conveying passengers from Jalbahu to Mahuta, while the boat consisted of passengers from Kebbi and Niger states, who were heading to a place in Mahuta where a stone was discovered with Arabic inscriptions,”.
He however attributed the cause of the boat mishap to collusion with a tree log in the water ways which caused damage to the boat.
He said that there was an argument between the passengers and the boat driver that resulted in the tragedy.
Edu
