Again boat capsizes in Kogi, 200 passengers on board, eight rescued

No fewer than 200 market women from Kogi State were on Friday involved in a boat accident  in Kogi, State.

The National Inland Waterways Authority has confirmed the incident, which occurred along the Dambo-Ebuchi section of the River Niger.

Suleman Makama, the Head of NIWA’s Media Department, disclosed that the women were travelling to a market in Niger State on ill-fated boat.

So far, only eight passengers has been rescued.

According to Makama: “It’s true that there was a boat mishap on Thursday involving quite a number of women heading to the market in Niger State. We are still investigating to determine the number of people involved and the cause of the accident.”

Eyewitness reports said the boat belonged one Musa Dangana, and was ferrying over 200 passengers, including market women and farm labourers, on their way to the Katcha weekly market in Niger State.

Apart from the eight rescued passengers, efforts are still on to trace the remaining passengers.

Makama is yet to issue an official statement on the incident, saying he is waiting for clearance from NIWA management before doing so.