No fewer than 33 dead bodies were over the weekend recovered after a boat mishap that occurred between Dere in Niger State and Murtala Mohammed bridge on river Niger.
The boat which conveyed over 100 passengers to Lokoja market from Katcha local government of Niger state had more victims from Yawa and Baka in Lapai local government area of Niger state.
The Eagle Online gathered that it was the pipeline patrol team boat that opened their halogen light on the oncoming boat at around 4:35am which lead to the lost of control thereby hitting a floating tree trunk which was uprooted by the river that had over flown it banks due to the recent heavy rain falls.
The tree broke the boat which carried fishermen, business women and many children all without vests to protect them from been drawn into two.
Findings also revealed that the boat began its journey from Katcha in Niger state while it was carrying passengers from different villages on their way to Lokoja market.
About four people were rescued by the local rescuers while five persons escaped through swimming to the riverbank and hung themselves on the trees by riverside waiting to be rescued later.
According to an eye witness Mr. Samson Alfa “the boat was conveying about 100 persons, over 100 bags of rice, many baskets of fish and other valuable items and it was filled to capacity”.
When contacted, the Niger state Police Public Relations Officer ASP Ibrahim Gambari confirmed the incident but said it occurred outside Niger state’s jurisdiction of the river.
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