A boat capsized on the River Niger in northeastern Nigeria on Friday, killing at least 27 people and leaving more than 100 individuals missing. The people, mostly people, were traveling to a food industry when the incident occurred, officials reported.
The ship, carrying around 200 people, was en route from Kogi condition to Niger position when it sank, according to Ibrahim Audu, spokeswoman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency. Rescue groups recovered 27 systems by Friday night, but no victims had been found 12 hrs after the incident, said Sandra Musa, spokesperson for Kogi position emergency services.
Officials have not confirmed the cause of the accident, though native accounts suggest overcrowding. In rural Nigerian areas with limited transport options and bad road infrastructure, overloaded boats are popular.
Recovery efforts faced issues, with team struggling to find the capsizing page hours after the incident, said Justin Uwazuruonye from Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency.
Water travel incidents remain a frequent topic in Nigeria, often linked to homelessness, poorly maintained boats, and the lack of career jackets. Cost and availability have prevented enforcement of safety measures, leaving people prone to tragedies like this.
