Story from Abdullahi Tukur, Kebbi
Over One hundred and fifty people were said to have died as a boat carrying artisanal miners, traders and some Nigerien nationals capsized in River Niger at Tsohuwan Labata village in Ngaski local government area of Kebbi state.
It was learnt by Radio Nigeria in Birnin Kebbi that, the boat which was overloaded with passengers and goods, was said to have taken up from Lokon Minna in Niger state heading to Warra in Kebbi state.
Radio Nigeria gathered, so far only four corpses recovered while 18 other passengers have been rescued and are at present in the hospital receiving medication.
Confirming the incident, the Secretary of Kebbi State branch of the Red Cross Society, Ibrahim Ngaski, said, the number of passengers on the boat was about 250 passengers, saying the majority of the passengers, were Artisanal miners and traders who were coming from Niger State to Kebbi state.
“Information at my disposal indicated that only one corpse was recovered while rescue mission was ongoing”.
Ngaski said the absence of rescue equipment was one of the major impediment to the rescue operation.
“The information at hand said the boat was carrying about 250 people, but we are waiting to hear from our men who had since joined the rescue team”.
When Contacted, Sarkin Samari of Warra, Adamu Umar Warra, said almost every single household has its member in the ill feted boat, noting that the boat was carrying over 150 people capsized in the deepest part of river Niger.
According to him, so far only four dead bodies were recovered while 18 others that were rescued had been rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
“The boat was carrying over 150 people. It capsized in Tsohuwar Labata village. So far only four corpses recovered, two male and two female”, he said.
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