From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency NSEMA, has confirmed that 56 people were missing after a boat capsized in the early hours of yesterday at Kiri village in Munya local government of Niger state.
The Public Relation Officer, PRO, of NSEMA, Mallam Hussaini who gave the confirmation, said there were 60 passengers on board while 4 persons were rescued alive, others whereabouts was still not known.
He however, said the agency was in touch with the Village Head and Marine Police at the site.
No fewer than 50 persons were reportedly killed in the boat mishap that occurred in the early hours of Sunday.
It was gathered that the victims had boarded a canoe to convey them to Zumba Market in Shiroro local government of the state, but capsized in the early hours of Sunday morning.
According to an eyewitness, the cause of the mishap was due to heavy rain storm that morning, while they were on their way hence the boat capsized claiming the lives of majority of the occupants.
Findings revealed that the canoe was conveying men and women as well as youths and children numbering about sixty.
When contacted, the Niger State Police Command, Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, ASP Babalola Adewole confirmed the incident, noted that the command has already sent a team of Marine Police to the area. He however, said he was yet to hear from them as at press time.
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