A tragic boat accident on the River Niger in northern Nigeria has claimed the lives of at least 27 people, with more than 100 others, mostly women, still missing. The incident occurred when a boat carrying around 200 passengers capsized while traveling from Kogi State to neighboring Niger State on Friday.
Rescue teams managed to recover 27 bodies by Friday evening, but local divers continued to search for additional victims. Despite the hours-long search, no survivors had been found 12 hours after the incident, according to Kogi State emergency services spokeswoman Sandra Musa.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the disaster, but local media reports suggest the boat may have been overloaded. Overcrowding is a common issue on boats in remote regions of Nigeria, where inadequate road infrastructure forces many people to rely on water transport.
Justin Uwazuruonye, head of Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency operations in the state, noted that rescuers faced significant challenges in locating the site of the capsizing, delaying the search efforts.
This tragic event highlights the growing concern over safety standards in Nigeria’s water transport system. Overcrowding and poorly maintained, locally constructed boats have been blamed for many such accidents. Authorities have struggled to enforce safety regulations, including the use of life jackets, due to issues with availability and cost.
