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The locally made boat, whose capacity was 100 passengers, had
about 300 people onboard along the Niger River when it
overturned in Niger state’s Mokwa district on Monday night,
according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency.
Such boat disasters are common in Nigeria, especially in remote
communities where the lack of good roads leaves many with no
alternative routes. This is the fourth tragedy involving more
than 100 passengers in northern Nigeria since mid-2023, many of
them never accounted for.
Local media reported that 11 bodies, nine men and two women,
have been recovered from the river so far.
At least 150 people had been rescued by Wednesday morning amid a
frantic search operation that is being supported by local divers
and volunteers, according to Abdullahi Baba-Arah, head of Niger
state's emergency services.
“The boat was not supposed to carry more than 100 persons, but
there were almost 300 people on it. And that was what resulted
in the breakage of the boat,” said Salihu Garba, director of
relief and rehabilitation at the state emergency services.
Experts say most of the boat disasters in Nigeria in recent
years increasingly point to regulatory failures and are often
attributed to overloading or poorly maintained boats.
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