The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has dispatched an emergency rescue team to search for missing passengers after a merchant boat capsized in Kogi on Friday. The announcement was made by NIWA’s Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, in a statement released on Friday.
According to Oyebamiji, the incident occurred in the early hours of Friday in the waters near Ebe community in Kupa South Local Government Area of Kogi. Preliminary findings by NIWA suggest that the wooden boat was en route to Katcha market in Niger State when it capsized due to poor visibility and overloading.
At this time, there are no confirmed reports of fatalities. The boat, operated by an unknown individual, had departed from an abandoned jetty around 1:00 a.m. on Friday, possibly in an attempt to evade NIWA’s surveillance of the waterways.
To investigate the cause of the accident, NIWA has formed a panel to determine the exact cause, the total number of passengers onboard, and the owner of the boat.
The agency’s top management team is leading and coordinating the ongoing rescue operations, while ensuring that any survivors receive immediate medical attention.
NIWA has assured the public that further updates regarding the incident will be provided as more information becomes available.
