More than 150 passengers are feared dead following a boat accident in Niger state.

The ill-fated vessel prior to the incident carried over 300 passengers, mostly women and children.

The incident occurred during a Maulid celebration journey on Tuesday.

According to POLITICS NIGERIA,  the passengers were traveling from Mundi Community to Gbajibo Community for the Maulid festival when the tragedy struck. According to eyewitnesses, the boat was overloaded and struggled to stay afloat in the turbulent waters of River Niger.

Rescue operations are currently underway, with the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) coordinating efforts in partnership with the State Ministry of Transport, Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, local divers, and community volunteers.

Alhaji Absullahi Baba-Arah, Director General of NSEMA, confirmed the incident.

“NSEMA received a report of a boat accident that occurred on the night of October 1, 2024, around 8:30 pm along River Niger, upstream of Jebba Dam, at Gbajibo Community in Mokwa LGA,” he said.