53 traders declared missing as boat capsizes in River Niger

No fewer than 53 persons have been declared missing after a boat carrying 100 traders from Gaya area of Niger Republic capsized in River Niger at Lolo area of Kebbi State.

The boat was carrying the traders to a market in Lolo at Bagudo Local Government in Kebbi state when the accident happened.

The chairman of Bagudo local government, Alhaji Muhammed Kaura Zagga told newsmen that majority of the traders were from Gaya in Niger Republic. He said they were going to the market at Lolo when their boat capsized.

He said the Niger authorities had deployed 500 divers to search for the remaining traders still missing.

The Acting Executive Director of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Abbas Rabiu confirmed the boat mishap, saying, “They were mostly traders from Niger Republic.”.