The death toll from last Sunday’s boat mishap at Dugga in the Borgu local government area of Niger State has increased to 14.
The new casualty figure was contained in an update on the accident released by the state Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management through its director of media and strategy, Habibu Wushishi.
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The boat mishap occurred at Dugga Mashaya in the Borgu local government area of Niger State while conveying passengers and goods to Wara Weekly Market in Kebbi State.
The release indicated that the “collaborative efforts of the Niger State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, its agency (Niger State Emergency Management Agency), Federal Inland Waterways, National Emergency Management (NEMA), Niger State Ministry of Transport, and local and professional divers have recovered 14 bodies out of the many passengers.”
Wushishi said the dead bodies recovered were six infants and eight adults, adding that the search, rescue, and recovery efforts are still ongoing in the expanse of water in and around the area where the mishap occurred.
He said the industry operators and passengers would be sensitised to be cautious in the use of live jackets, discard rickety boats and desist from overloading.