Some residents of Niger State have reportedly died in a boat mishap while trying to escape attack by bandit terrorists.
The locals according to reports, had fled Sayita village after terrorists invaded the Munya local government area of the state on Wednesday morning.
However, while escaping the assailants in a local boat, an accident reportedly occurred and at least sixteen people drowned in the mishap.
Naija News learnt that the boat capsized on the river Kaduna at Bodo village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
Daily Post reports that the victims had approached Zumba town in Shiroro local government area when the accident occurred.
A local who confirmed the incident said the terrorists over 100 in number stormed Sayita village on Wednesday morning and out of fear, the deceased villagers decided to flee for safety on the three wooden boats to Zumba.
He explained further that the locals had escaped in three boats before one of the boats carrying about thirty passengers capsized.
According to the eyewitness, the boat had hit a rock and efforts by the other travellers in the two other boats could only rescue fourteen.
It was further learnt that as the other travellers tried to bury the 14 corpses, they sighted the terrorists coming and abandoned them.
Confirming the incident, the head of the local divers in Zumba known as Sarkin Jirgi, told reporters that they have recovered eight bodies comprising six children and two women.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency NSEMA Ahmed Ibrahim Inga who also affirmed the incident, told reporters that a search and rescue operation has commenced to rescue victims.
This article was originally published on Nigeria News
