At least 27 people have died and more than 100, mostly women, are missing after a boat carrying people to a food market capsized on the Niger River in northern Nigeria, the Associated Press reported, citing BTA, citing the authorities.
About 200 passengers were on the boat traveling from Kogi state to neighboring Niger state when it capsized, Niger State Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ibrahim Audu told AP.
According to Sandra Musa, a spokeswoman for the emergency services in Kogi state, rescuers have managed to retrieve the bodies of 27 people from the river, while divers are still searching for the rest. About 12 hours after the incident, not a single survivor was found, she added.
Authorities have not confirmed what caused the boat to sink, but local media have suggested the vessel may have been overloaded. Crowding the boats is a common occurrence in remote parts of Nigeria, where the lack of good roads leaves many people with no other alternative to get around, AP notes.
According to Justin Uwazuruone, who is in charge of the operations of the National Emergency Management Agency in the state, hours after the tragedy, rescuers were having trouble establishing the exact location of the capsized vessel.
Such deadly incidents are becoming a growing concern in Nigeria – Africa's most populous country as authorities struggle to enforce safety measures and water transport regulations.
Most of the accidents are due to the overloading and insufficient maintenance of the boats, which are often assembled on site to accommodate as many passengers as possible without observing safety measures, AP notes.