Search and rescuers operators are still searching for seven more persons after saving another 65 people and recovering 30 bodies in last Saturday’s boat mishap in Tijana, Munya council area of Niger state.
About 100 people including women and children, were involved in the accident, when a boat conveying them from local market in Zumba in Shiroro local government area of the state capsised midway at about 6:00pm.
The paper quotes Sarkin Kasuwan (Head of the Market) Zumba, Adamu Ahmed, as saying that 30 bodies had so far been recovered since search-and-rescue operations began Saturday night adding that the local divers are still intensifying search for more bodies, while complaining that lack of support in the area of logistics from any quarter was slowing their search operation.
The boat which is said to be six months old said to be ferrying the passengers, among whom were some returnees who had earlier fled their homes with their children due to bandit attacks, capsised in heavy windstorm on a rainy Saturday evening.
Adamu said: “Some of the victims were going back to the village to go and get some food items and return back to Zumba where they are taking refuge as a result of bandits activities in the affected communities.”
The victims were from about seven communities, all in Munya local government where armed bandits have intensified their attacks on the people.
The Director-General, State Emergency Management Agency, Ahmed Inga, when contacted on the issue said the actual number of people that were on board the capsized were about 100, adding that 28 bodies had been recovered, 65 people rescued while search for the remaining seven is ongoing.