More than 50 people have been killed and dozens still missing after a boat was hit by an overcrowded boat in the northwestern Nigerian province of Kebbi on Wednesday, government officials said.
At least 150 passengers were on board, most of them from Kebbi State and believed to be traders, officials said.
Abdullahi Buhari, chairman of the Ngaski Local Government Area in Kebbi State, where the incident took place, told on Thursday that the death toll had risen to 53, with an expected increase.
Buhari added that 22 people had been rescued and that after being hospitalized, they were released.
Earlier on Thursday, Abbas Rabiu Kamba, acting chief executive of Kebbi's Emergency Management Agency, told that they had found 47 bodies - 20 men and 22 women - in the water so far. Kamba added that to date, it was not clear how many children had lost their lives.
Niger State police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun said the boat had left the Borgu district in Niger province and headed for a nearby market in Kebbi before experiencing difficulties early Wednesday.
Authorities point out that overloading is the cause of the accident, and a police spokesman has warned boat crews to take precautionary measures and to refrain from overloading their boats.
Atleast 50 dead and dozens missing after boat sinks in northwest Nigeria
8:21 AM
Posts
