Many people were feared dead in a boat mishap on the River Shiroro on Saturday afternoon.

It was gathered most of the deceased were women and children.

The incident occurred when a wooden passenger boat capsized near Zumba in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The incident occurred around 2:30 pm on Saturday as the boat, carrying passengers and goods, was en route the popular Saturday market in Zumba from Guni, a riverside community in Munya Local Government Area.

The boat was said to have capsized shortly after departure.

Eyewitnesses said the boat struck a submerged tree and split in two, throwing all onboard into the river.

Panic and confusion followed with passengers struggling to stay afloat in the fast-moving current.

“As soon as it hit the tree under the water, it just broke apart,” said a source near the Zumba market, who added that the boat was loaded with people and market-bound goods.

As of the time of filing this report, the exact number of casualties remains unknown but local divers have launched a frantic search and rescue operation.

Efforts are ongoing to recover bodies and search for possible survivors.

This incident occurred a few days after the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) launched the lifejacket and safety awareness campaign tagged No Life Jacket, No Boarding across riverine communities in Niger state to reduce boat mishaps and enhance waterway safety.

It was noted that none of the passengers was wearing any lifejackets despite NIWA’s stand on zero tolerance over non-use of life jackets. (The Nation)