Pregnant Woman, Son, 7 Others Die in Niger Boat Mishap

A pregnant woman, Ramatu Mamman, her two year-old son, Saminu and seven others persons perished in boat mishap in Niger on Monday.

 The Director General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Malam Ahmed Ibrahim Inga stated this on Tuesday, in Minna, adding that the victims  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, killing nine of its 11 passengers at about 10 am.

He said among those who lost their lives were a mechanic, one John Moses and two of his apprentices, Khalifa Danladi, 14 and Ubale Usman 16years respectively

The trio, according to him, 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.

He noted that the other passengers on noard the ill-fated boat, 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.

The NSEMA Boss 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.

He added further that even though the load was beyond the capacity of the boat which he explained was very small and  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 pointed out .

Meanwhile, Ahmed Inga said that  local divers have been  moblised to the scene shortly after the accident, stressing thay only the remains of the pregnant woman have been  recovered with her son strapped to her back.

He said divers are still searching for the reaming passengers on board the capsized boat as at Tuesday evening.