2023-06-13 23:49:03
More than 100 people have died in north-central Nigeria after a boat carrying families returning from a wedding sank on the Niger River, police and local authorities said on Tuesday.
The river boat was ferrying its passengers into Kwara State from western Niger State when the accident happened, local police and the state governor’s office said, which did not say. clarified the causes of the sinking.
“So far, we have counted 103 dead. More than 100 people who were rescued,” Kwara state police spokesman Okasanmi Ajayi told AFP. “Research is still ongoing, which means the toll may still climb,” he added.
Common Shipwrecks
The victims were back in Patigi district, Kwara state, after celebrating a wedding in Niger state, according to the Kwara state governor’s office.
Shipwrecks on Nigeria’s rivers and rivers are common. They are generally due to overloaded boats, their poor maintenance, or non-compliance with safety rules.
#dead #sinking #boat