Boat capsizing in northern Nigeria: 27 dead, 100 missing
At least 27 people have died and more than 100 are missing after a boat capsized in northern Nigeria, authorities reported, as noted by The Guardian.
Around 200 passengers were aboard the boat as it traveled from Kogi State to the neighboring Niger State when it capsized on the Niger River, according to Ibrahim Audu, spokesperson for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency.
By Friday evening, rescuers had recovered 27 bodies, while local divers continued to search for more, according to Sandra Musa, spokesperson for the Kogi State emergency services.
No survivors had been found about 12 hours after the incident occurred. The boat was carrying passengers, the majority of whom were women, to a food market.
Authorities have not confirmed the cause of the capsizing, though local media have suggested that the boat might have been overloaded.
Rescuers struggled to locate the site of the wreck for several hours after the tragedy, said Justin Uwazuruonye, operations officer at the National Emergency Management Agency of Niger State.
Deadly incidents like these are becoming an increasing concern in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, as authorities struggle to implement safety measures and regulations for water transport.
Most accidents are attributed to overloading and poor maintenance of boats, which are often built locally to accommodate as many passengers as possible, disregarding safety regulations. Authorities have also failed to enforce the use of life jackets on such journeys, often due to their unavailability or cost.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
