The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the incident in a statement in Minna on Friday.

Arah said the boat, sailing from Ebe Community in Kogi state with about 50 passengers on board, was heading to Katcha market when the incident occurred around 2.00 a.m. on Thursday.

He said that personnel of NSEMA, Agaie Local Government Emergency Committee, local divers, and other community volunteers, had been directing search and rescue operations.

The D-G said that 22 bodies had been recovered, while eight persons had been rescued alive so far.

Arah added that 18 of the recovered bodies were from Kogi state, while four were inhabitants of Akwanu community in Agaie LGA in Niger

He said that the search and rescue operation was still ongoing to locate more survivors, adding that the general public would be provided with further updates. (NAN)