A tragic boat accident occurred in Niger State's Shiroro Local Government Area, resulting in the recovery of 13 bodies. The incident happened on Saturday when a boat carrying goods and passengers capsized on its way to a weekly market in the area.
Key Details
- *Number of Bodies Recovered*: 13 bodies have been recovered so far, with search and rescue operations ongoing to account for missing passengers.
- *Cause of the Accident*: The exact cause is still unknown, but failure to use life jackets has been identified as a contributing factor to high casualty rates in such incidents.
- *Rescue Efforts*: The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) is leading the search and rescue operations, with local divers and volunteers assisting in the efforts ¹.
Safety Concerns
- *Life Jackets*: The NSEMA Director-General emphasized the importance of wearing life jackets, noting that their enforcement could have prevented some of the casualties.
- *Previous Incidents*: This incident highlights the recurring nature of boat accidents in Nigeria's inland waterways, often resulting from human error, overloading, and disregard for safety regulations.
Government Response
- *Support for Survivors*: The government has assured adequate care for survivors, with hospitals instructed to provide necessary treatment.
- *Stricter Enforcement*: Authorities are urged to enforce safety regulations more strictly to prevent future incidents ¹ ².
