By RITA ILIYA

A boat mishap has claimed 29 lives in Gausawa community, in Malale ward of Borgu Local Government Area of Niger.

Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, Director-General of Niger state Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), disclosed this in a statement in Minna on Wednesday.

He said that the incident occurred on Tuesday at about 11.30 am, adding that the boat was carrying 90 passengers including women and children.

He said that the boat took off from Tungan Sule in Shagunu ward with 90 people on board and was heading to Dugga for a condolence visit.

He said that the boat collided with a tree stump, which resulted in the tragic incident.

He said 29 dead bodies have been recovered with 50 persons rescued alive, while two people were still missing, adding that search and rescue operations were ongoing.

“As at the time of filling this report, 29 dead bodies have been recovered with 50 persons rescued alive while 2 people are still missing.

“Overloading and collision with the tree stump are believed to be the causes of the mishap,” he said. (NAN)