A devastating boat accident has claimed several lives after a vessel carrying over 200 passengers capsized on the Dambo-Ebuchi stretch of the River Niger earlier today, November 29.
Eyewitnesses report that the boat, owned by a local operator identified as Musa Dangana, was ferrying passengers, including market women and farm workers, to the bustling Katcha weekly market in Niger State. Tragically, the overloaded boat overturned, plunging all onboard into the river.
Rescue operations are currently underway, with local divers racing against time to recover victims. So far, eight bodies have been retrieved from the water, while efforts to locate other passengers continue.
This incident marks yet another heartbreaking reminder of the dangers of river travel in the region. Just last month, a similar tragedy occurred on October 1, when a boat capsized on the Muwo Gbajibo River in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, claiming numerous lives.
