Boat carrying 200 passengers capsizes, 8 bodies recovered in Niger

Eight bodies have been recovered following a boat mishap that occurred along the Dambo-Ebuchi sections of River Niger on Friday morning.

It was learnt that the ill-fated boat was heading to the Katcha weekly market in Niger State and majority of the over 200 passengers onboard were market women and farm labourers.

The boat which belonged to one Musa Dangana was said to have capsized throwing all passengers overboard, although the cause of the mishap could not be immediately ascertained.

Rescue efforts led by local divers are ongoing to locate the remaining passengers.

A spokesman for the Niger State Management Agency, Ibrahim Hussaini said the incident is being investigated.

The incident occurred weeks after a similar one claimed the lives of 42 passengers on the Muwo Gbajibo River in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State on October 1.