JOHANNESBURG — A tragic boat accident in north-central Nigeria's Niger State has claimed the lives of at least 60 people, as reported by Al Jazeera and other news outlets on Wednesday. The incident is the latest in a series of deadly maritime disasters that plague the West African nation's waterways.
According to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), the vessel, carrying more than 100 passengers, overturned around 11 a.m. on Monday in a river near the village of Gausawa in the Borgu region. The boat was en route to Dugu village, located on the Kainji reservoir, from the village of Tungan Sulle.
In a statement, NSEMA confirmed the grim toll, stating that "at least 60 people have died, dozens have been rescued, and the rest are missing." The agency added that search and rescue operations are still underway, and the final number of casualties is expected to climb.
Local media, including the newspaper Daily Trust, have cited overloading and a collision with an underwater tree stump as the likely causes of the disaster.
Boat accidents are a frequent and deadly occurrence in Nigeria, where poor road conditions often make river transport a necessary mode of travel. These incidents are typically caused by a combination of overloading, substandard vessel maintenance, and a widespread disregard for safety regulations. The risks are particularly high during the annual rainy season, which runs from March to October.
The recent tragedy follows a similar incident on August 17th, when a boat capsized in the northwestern state of Sokoto, leaving over 40 people missing. Just one month prior, on July 26th, another boat accident in Niger State resulted in at least 25 fatalities.
The scale of the crisis is staggering. Data compiled by local news outlet The Cable reveals that last year alone, at least 326 people died in river boat accidents across Nigeria, underscoring the urgent need for improved safety measures and stricter enforcement of maritime regulations.
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