Scores Dead As Boat Capsizes On River Niger

A speed boat conveying passengers on River Niger at Bagana in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State has capsized, killing scores of people.

Ibrahim Dantani, a relative of one of the deceased who is a native of Umaisha in Toto LGA of Nasarawa State, said the canoe had the accident happened in the night around 9:12 pm on Sunday.

Dantani revealed that many of the victims were traders who were returning to their home Umaisha from a local market in Bagana, adding that the speed boat crashed into a tree in the middle of the river and suddenly capsized.

He said all the passengers including women and children drowned, adding that the remains of the victims had been recovered, while a rescue operation was still ongoing.

The Ohimegye of Opanda-Umaisha Kingdom, His Royal Highness Alhaji Usman Abdullah said the victims were from his kingdom, including some Hausa traders and scavengers who were returning from Bagana market to Umaisha.

“I am yet to get details and the total number of people involved in the canoe accident. It was one of the people in my palace who called to inform me about the incident while I was away,” he said.

The chairman of Toto local government area of Nasarawa state, Abdullahi Aliyu Tashas, said he has yet to get details.