The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed the recovery of 32 additional bodies from the boat mishap that occurred on the River Niger, bringing the total number of fatalities to 54.
Justin Uwazuruonye, Head of Operations at NEMA’s Abuja office, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, highlighting the collaborative efforts of emergency responders in the ongoing search and rescue operations.
The tragic incident took place on Thursday, November 28, when a boat carrying around 200 traders from Niger and Kogi States capsized while en route to a weekly market in Katchia, Niger State.
The traders were heading to the market when the boat overturned on the river.
“As of today (Saturday), the number of bodies recovered by the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency, the Red Cross, and NEMA stands at 54,” Uwazuruonye confirmed, adding that all recovered victims were found dead.
Also Read: Kogi Boat Mishap: NIWA Launches Rescue Mission
Search and rescue operations continue as relatives mourn the death, as officials of the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency say the incident has raised concerns about waterway safety in the Kogi State and its neighbouring Niger State, where traders use inland waterways to transport goods and services across the river Niger, with an increasing risk of overloading, a major cause of the boat incidents on the river Niger.
Executive Secretary of Kogi State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Moukthar Atima, told Voice of Nigeria in a telephone interview on Monday that the agency would release total casualty figures at the end of the rescue operation.
Comments are closed.