42 Dead & 100 Missing in Boat Capsize in River Niger.

At least 42 people were drowned in a boat mishap on River Niger close to Malilli Village in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, mainly traders returning from Malilli Village to Tunga Illo village, after the day’s market.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 100 others on board were missing in the wreckage which occurred at about 2 p.m.

Mr. Ibrahim Hussaini, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), confirmed the incident in a telephone interview on September 28, 2013, Saturday.

He said the details were sketchy, but the boat which had over 150 passengers capsized midway and drowned 42 people, while 100 others were missing.

The spokesman said that local divers from Malili Village had recovered 42 corpses, while efforts were being intensified to rescue possible survivors or the corpse of those drowned and the recovered corpses will be given a mass burial close to the river bank.

Mr. Hussaini said the recovered corpses would be given mass burial close to the river bank, adding that neighbouring villages had been alerted to look out for floating corpses.

Saidu Ndako, the Secretary to the State Government, also confirmed the boat mishap and says the debris in the river may have responsible for the incident, adding that the capacity of the boat was also stretched and was overloaded to 150 people instead of 60 people.

Mr. Ndako said that the government condoled with the family of those who had lost their loved ones, and pray that Allah grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.Search and rescue efforts are ongoing.