No fewer than seven people have died and seven  hospitalized in Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi when  a boat carrying 150 passengers returning from Malali Market capsized along River Niger. The boat was said to have ran into the branch of a tree in the river.

The Coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in-charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States, Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammad, confirmed this in Ngaski on Saturday.

He said that efforts were on going to rescue the missing passengers.

Muhammad said fishermen and officials of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) were coordinating the rescue operation.

“As soon as we got the hint of the mishap, we put a call to the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority to help rescue the missing passengers.

“All the people on board were missing, but as rescue and search continued wide and deep of the river, 14 people were discovered; seven died and seven have been taken to Ngaski Hospital,” he said.