Boat mishap: Pregnant woman, son, 7 others feared dead in Niger state

Niger state Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) on Monday, disclosed that a pregnant woman, identified as Ramatu Mammam, her two year old son, Saminu and seven other persons were feared death in a boat mishap.

The Director General of the Agency (NSEMA), Alhjai Ahmed Inga disclosed that the deceased were said to have boarded the boat from Shata Sabo in Shiroro local government area when it capsized midway into their journey to Shata Soho in Bosso local government area.

It was learnt that nine of its 11 passengers died at about 10 am.

Among those who lost their lives according the Director General were a mechanic, one John Moses and two of his apprentices, Khalifa Danladi, 14 and Ubale Usman 16.

The trio were said to be based in Nangawu community also in Bosso local government area and were going to repair a broken down vehicle when they met their death.

The other passengers on the ill-fated boat, Alhaji Inga explained, were one Malam Muhammad Safir of Fulani extraction whose age could not be immediately ascertained; Malam Salihu Aliyu, and 72 year-old man simply referred to as Makadi.

Alhaji Inga said two of the passengers including the boat’s driver whose identity could not be ascertained, survived the accident but that the driver is in critical condition.

The director general added that even though the load was beyond the capacity of the boat which he explained was very small.

However, he attributed the cause of accident to flood wave.” They were already on the water when flood wave hits the boat forcing it to capsize”,

He said local divers were mobilised to the scene shortly after the accident but only the remains of the pregnant Ramatu was recovered with her son strapped to her back.

He said divers are still searching for the reaming passengers.