National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has declared 156 persons missing in the boat mishap which occurred in Kebi State on Wednesday.
Mr Yusuf Birma, NIWA area manager in Yauri Kebbi State, disclosed this, adding that the accident was caused by overloading.
MDB earlier reported that the boat carrying about 170 people sank in River Niger, with many passengers feared dead.
Read Also: Many Feared Dead As Boat Carrying 170 Passengers Sinks In River Niger
Birma has now said rescue operation was still ongoing but added that four people have been confirmed dead, 20 rescued alive while 156 people are still missing.
He stated;
The boat is carrying 180 passengers with 30 Bajaj motorcycles. The victims were going to a market in Malele in Borgu local government area of Niger state from Kebbi and the incident happened just one hour into their trip.
We are still rescuing the victims; the mishap occurred as a result of overloading. The boat capacity is not up 180 passengers it carried, as we speak, only 20 people have been rescued alive, four dead confirmed while the remaining 156 people are still missing and they are believed to be underwater.
Speaking further on the cause of the mishap, Birma added that most of the boats are old and weak.
He stated;
The boat involved is a wooden boat which are is old and are very weak but this people will not listen when we sensitised them to reduce the number of passengers they are carrying with the boat.
Meanwhile, Niger state emergency management agency also confirmed the incident but stated that it didn’t occur in the state.
