Pregnant woman, son, 7 others drown in Niger boat accident

A pregnant woman, Ramatu Mamman and her two year-old son, Saminu have been reportedly killed along with seven other passengers in a boat accident in Niger state.
Director General, State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhjai Ahmed Inga disclosed this in Minna yesterday.
He said that the deceased boarded the boat from Shata Sabo in Shiroro local government area when it capsized midway into their journey to Shata Soho in Bosso local government area of the state.
He said that 11 passengers were on board the boat before the incident occurred at about 10 am, adding that 9 of the villagers died before local divers reached the scene.
Among those who lost their lives according the Director General were a mechanic, one John Moses and two of his apprentices, Khalifa Danladi, 14 and Ubale Usman, 16.
The three deceased were said to be based in Nangawu community also in Bosso local government area and were going to repair a broken down vehicle when they met their death.
The other passengers on the illfated boat, Alhaji Inga explained, were one Malam Muhammad Safir of Fulani extraction whose age could not be immediately ascertained; Malam Salihu Aliyu, and 72 year-old man simply referred to as Makadi.
He said two of the passengers, including the boat’s driver whose identity could not be ascertained, survived the accident but that the driver was in critical condition.
He said that loads on the boat were beyond its capacity and attributed the disaster to flood wave, explaining that “they were already on the water when flood wave hit the boat forcing it to capsize”.
He said local divers were moblised to the scene shortly after the accident but only the remains of the pregnant Ramatu was recovered with her son strapped to her back, adding that divers were still searching for the reaming passengers.