Nigeria, Nov 30: A tragic boat accident in Northern Nigeria on Friday claimed the lives of at least 27 people, with more than 100 others reported missing. The boat, believed to be carrying around 200 passengers, capsized on the banks of the Niger River while en route from Kogi State to the neighboring state of Niger, according to Ibrahim Audu, a spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency.
Sources said, the rescuers had retrieved 27 bodies from the river, but the search for the missing passengers is still underway. After 12 hours of search efforts, no survivors were found. The cause of the sinking has not yet been ascertained, although local media reports suggest that the boat may have been overloaded, contributing to the disaster.
The incident is part of a worrying trend of boat accidents in Nigeria, which have raised serious concerns about the safety of water transport in the country. The high population and limited enforcement of safety regulations make it difficult for officials to ensure safety on the water.
Common factors contributing to such accidents include overcrowding, lack of boat maintenance, and minimal use of life jackets, which are often either unavailable or too costly for many passengers.
As the search for the missing continues, officials are under growing pressure to address the systemic issues in water transport safety to prevent further tragedies.
Further investigation is underway.
