Niger State Government has released a sum of N13 million to relieve victims of the boat mishap which occurred in Malili Borgu Local Government Area of the state last weekend, CEOAFRICA.com gathered.

According to a release by the state Commissioner for Transport, Malam Garba Mohammed, the accident was caused by the terrain of the river. More than 26 people lost their lives when their boat capsized in the river.

Mohammed further disclosed that immediately the disaster was reported to the government, it sent a team to the area, where the driver of the boat was found and he gave account of what happened. From what the driver said, about 80 passengers were on board the ill-fated boat and of the 26 persons that were killed, 20 were adults and the rest were children.

The driver was accused by Mohammed for violating the law on water transportation in the state because none of them wore life jackets and paddling the boat without a balloon. Some of the deceased, he said, were of Hausa, Fulani and Dukawa tribes and National Park officials.

The state government has banned till further notice all forms of water transportation in the affected local government areas to prevent further mishaps.