By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Twenty-six people have been rescued in a boat mishap that occurred on Saturday morning around the Kwata area en route to the Zumba market in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
Thirteen bodies, including those of women and children, were found and buried on Sunday night during search and rescue operations.
The tragic incident occurred at about 11:45 am on Saturday, involving a boat conveying 39 passengers and goods that capsized midway into the journey.
The Area Manager, Niger/ Kwara office of the National Inland Waterways Authority NIWA, during a visit to the scene of the accident says that the boat driver and a few passengers who were rescued are currently receiving treatment at the Kuta General Hospital.
NIWA expressed concern over the continuous disregard for safety protocols on Waterways, lamenting that the tragedy occurred just days after NIWA distributed life jackets to the people of the affected communities.
