At least 60 people have died after a boat carrying more than 100 passengers capsized in north-central Nigeria, officials confirmed on Wednesday. Dozens of survivors have been rescued, while search efforts are continuing for those still missing.

The vessel had departed from Tungan Sule in Malale district on Tuesday morning and was heading towards Dugga, in the Kainji reservoir area of Niger State, when it struck a submerged tree stump near the Gausawa community in Borgu Local Government Area.

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) attributed the accident to overloading and the collision. The passengers, including women and children, were travelling to Dugga for a condolence visit, the agency said.

“The death toll of the boat incident has risen to 60,” Abdullahi Baba Ara, NSEMA’s director general, told Reuters. “Ten people are in serious condition, and many others are still being sought.”

Sa’adu Inuwa Muhammad, the district head of Shagumi, who arrived at the site shortly after the accident, confirmed that more than 100 people had been on board. 

He said 31 bodies were initially recovered and noted that women and children made up most of the victims. Four were buried in accordance with Islamic rites shortly after their recovery.

Boat accidents are common in Nigeria’s riverine regions, particularly during the rainy season between March and October when waterways overflow. Weak safety enforcement, overcrowding and poorly maintained vessels are often cited as key causes.

In August, more than 40 people were declared missing after another overloaded boat sank in Sokoto State in the country’s northwest.

Source: Al Jazeera 

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