At least 27 people died and more than 100, mostly women, were missing on Friday, after a boat transporting them to a food market capsized along the River Niger in northern Nigeria, authorities said.
About 200 passengers were on the boat that was going from the state of Kogi to neighboring state of Niger when it capsized, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ibrahim Audu told The Associated Press.
Rescues managed to pull 27 bodies from the river by Friday evening while local divers were still searching for others, according to Sandra Musa, spokeswoman for the Kogi state emergency services.
No survivor was found about 12 hours after the incident occurred, she added.
Authorities have not confirmed what caused the sinking but local media suggested the boat may have been overloaded. Overcrowding on boats is common in remote parts of Nigeria where the lack of good roads leaves many with no alternative routes.
According to Justin Uwazuruonye, who is in charge of Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency operations in the state, rescuers had trouble finding the location of the capsizing for hours after Friday’s tragedy struck.
Such deadly incidents are increasingly becoming a source of concern in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, as authorities struggle to enforce safety measures and regulations for water transportation.
Most of the accidents have been attributed to overcrowding and the lack of maintenance of the boats, often built locally to accommodate as many passengers as possible in defiance of safety measures.
Also, authorities have not been able to enforce the use of life jackets on such trips, often because of lack of availability or cost.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER NOW
Support MATAZ ARISING’ journalism of integrity and credibility.
Good journalism ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
We ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
TEXT AD: To advertise here – Email ad@matazarising.com
-
WAEC appoints Nigeria’s Dangut as new registrar, CEO
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, has appointed Dr Amos Josiah Dangut as its new Registrar and Chief Executive Officer. By Elizabeth Osayande Dangut served as Head of the Nigeria National Office from October 2023 until September 2026. In a statement on Thursday by the Head of Public Affairs, WAEC Headquarters, Accra,…
-
US: ‘Should be easy to do’, Trump reacts to Christa Pike’s failed execution
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas United States President, Donald Trump, has questioned how Christa Pike’s execution by lethal injection could have failed, saying the process should not be difficult to carry out. Tribune Online reports that Pike, 50, survived two rounds of lethal injection in Tennessee, making her the first person known to survive that method of…
-
Canada to set new targets for immigrants, temporary residents
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas Canada is expected to announce new immigration targets for permanent residents and temporary residents when it unveils its Immigration Levels Plan for 2027–2029 in early November. The plan will cover permanent resident admissions as well as temporary resident arrivals, including international students and temporary foreign workers, with the figures expected to shape…
