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At least 27 people have died and more than 100 are missing after a boat capsized in the north of the country. Nigeriaauthorities said.
About 200 passengers were on the boat traveling from Kogi state to neighboring Niger state when it capsized on the Niger River, Niger State Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ibrahim Audu told The Associated Press.
Rescuers managed to retrieve 27 bodies from the river by Friday evening, while local divers were still searching for others, according to Sandra Musa, Kogi state emergency services spokeswoman.
No survivors had been found about 12 hours after the incident, she added. The boat was carrying the passengers, who were mostly women, to a food market.
Authorities have not confirmed the cause of the sinking, but local media have suggested the boat may have been overloaded. Boat overcrowding is common in remote parts of Nigeria, where the lack of good roads leaves many without alternative routes.
According to Justin Uwazuruonye, who is in charge of Nigeria’s national emergency management agency’s operations in the state, rescuers had trouble locating the site of the overturn hours after Friday’s tragedy.
Such deadly incidents have become a growing source of concern in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, as authorities struggle to enforce safety measures and regulations on water transport.
Most of the accidents are due to the overcrowding and lack of maintenance of the boats, often built on site to accommodate as many passengers as possible in violation of safety measures. Authorities have also failed to enforce the use of life jackets on such trips, often due to lack of availability or cost.
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