A tragic boat accident occurred early Friday along the Dambo-Ebuchi sections of the River Niger, claiming multiple lives.
Eyewitnesses reported that the boat, owned by one Musa Dangana, was carrying over 200 passengers, including market women and farm laborers, on their way to the Katcha weekly market when it capsized, throwing everyone into the river.
Rescue operations are currently ongoing, with local divers recovering the bodies of the victims. As of the latest updates, eight bodies have been retrieved, while efforts continue to locate the remaining passengers.
This incident follows a similar boat tragedy on the Muwo Gbajibo River in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State on October 1, 2024, which also resulted in numerous fatalities.
Preliminary reports suggest that none of the passengers were wearing life jackets, which may have contributed to the high casualty rate.
While the authorities have not yet issued an official statement, an investigation is expected to be launched to determine the cause of the accident.