Nigerian authorities in the country’s northwestern region have confirmed the disappearance of over 100 people, mostly women and children, after an overloaded boat capsized.
Reports indicate that the locally made boat, with a capacity of 100 passengers, was carrying approximately 300 people when it overturned along the Niger River. The boat was transporting passengers returning from an Islamic festival in the Mokwa district of Niger State on Monday night.
According to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, the incident is one of many similar boat disasters common in Nigeria, particularly in remote communities where the absence of proper roads forces residents to rely on river transport.
This marks the fourth tragedy involving over 100 passengers in northern Nigeria since mid-2023, with many of the victims never accounted for.
So far, the bodies of two women have been recovered from the river.
By Wednesday morning, at least 150 people had been rescued amid a frantic search operation 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 people, but there were almost 300 onboard. That was what caused the boat to break,” said Salihu Garba, director of relief and rehabilitation at the state emergency services.