Eko Hot Blog reports that separate boat accidents in Niger and Kebbi States, on Monday, drowned at least 52 passengers who are presumed dead.

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) said a boat carrying about 22 passengers capsized in Agwara LGA.

According to NAN, Salihu Garba, the director general of the agency, said the boat was conveying passengers from Kasabo villages in Agwara LGA of Niger to Yauri in Kebbi state.

Garba said the mishap occurred at about 11 am to 12 pm on Monday.

He revealed the incident occurred on Yauri market day, adding that the rescue team was yet to recover any of the passengers.

Garba also disclosed that the desk officer of the agency is currently overseeing the ongoing search and rescue operations by local divers and boat owners in Agwara.

The director general said the incident was caused by strong waves, adding that families would be able to declare their members missing after the market activities.

Commenting on the mishap in a statement on Monday, Abubakar Yelwa, managing director of National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), described the incident as “unfortunate”.

Yelwa attributed the boat incident to windstorm, adding that the commission is working to sensitise the public on maritime safety.

“The commission in its efforts to strengthen safety measures has in addition to provision of life jackets, engaged in sensitization campaigns on maritime safety with the most recent one conducted just last week,” he said.

“N-HYPPADEC management symphathizes with Yauri Emirate Council and Kebbi State Government over the tragic incident and prays for repose of the souls of the deceased.”

Similarly, no fewer than 30 persons reportedly drowned as the boat carrying over 50 passengers capsized in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Monday.

Confirming the ugly development to the Voice of America through telephone, the Chairman of Yauri LGA, Bala Yauri, said the incident has left the people of the local government in deep sorrow.

He said efforts are in top gear by local divers to locate the corpses of the passengers who drowned in the river.

“From the information I gathered, more than fifty persons were involved in the accident while some of them escaped but as of now that I am talking to you, over thirty of them as still trapped in the river,” Yauri reportedly said.

“We have mobilised the local divers to try and locate bodies of the victims for proper evacuation and possibly befitting burials in accordance with Islamic rights.

“The boat as I heard carried passengers who are mostly traders from either Niger State or Kebbi State alongside foodstuffs for sell before the unfortunate incident.”