A tragic boat accident in Northern Nigeria has left dozens feared dead after a vessel, mostly carrying women and children returning from a religious festival, capsized, according to local emergency officials and residents.
The wooden boat, with nearly 300 passengers on board, sank in the River Niger around 8:30 p.m. (1930 GMT) on Tuesday, said Abdullahi Baba Arah, head of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency.
Rescue efforts saved 150 people, but the search for more survivors continues. “The search and rescue operation is still ongoing to locate more survivors,” Arah stated.
Ismaila Umar, a local boat skipper, said the likelihood of finding additional survivors is slim.
This marks the second major boat disaster in Niger state within 18 months, following a similar incident that killed over 100 people.
Overcrowding and inadequate maintenance are the primary causes of the frequent boat accidents on Nigeria’s waterways.
Many vessels lack essential safety measures, while operators often disregard regulations, contributing to the high number of incidents.
Additionally, poor enforcement of safety standards and the use of outdated boats exacerbate the risks, especially during high-traffic periods like religious festivals.
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