Six more bodies of victims of the October 1 boat crash in Niger State have been recovered from the river in the Gbajibo community.

The figure brings the total number of recovered bodies to 42 according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency NSEMA.

The Director General of NSEMA Abdullahi Baba-Arah who made this known on today disclosed that rescue and search operations were still going on to recover more victims.

“From 6 pm yesterday to 10 am this morning, 6 more dead bodies were recovered, bringing the total to 42 corpses,” Baba-Arah made this known in a statement.

More than 150 passengers were declared missing on Tuesday after a wooden canoe carrying over 300 person capsized in the river in the Gbajibo community.

The boat which was said to be carrying more women and children was conveying the passengers to celebrate the maulud in the Gbajibo community in the state.

“The boat was sailing from Mundi Community with a population of almost 300 passengers comprising mostly women and children for the Maulud celebration at Gbajibo.

“NSEMA is directing and monitoring search and rescue operations in collaboration with the State Ministry of Transport, Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, brave local divers, and other community volunteers.

“The search and rescue operation is still ongoing to locate more survivors, and the general public will be provided with the update,” NSEMA said.

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