Nigeria: At Least 100 People, Mostly Women, Missing As Boat Capsizes Along River Niger

National Inland Waterways Authority spokesperson Makama Suleiman said the boat was carrying mostly traders from Missa community. They were not wearing life jackets when the accident happened.

At least 100 people are missing after a boat capsized along River Niger in northern Nigeria.

Source : iStock

At least 100 people, most of them women, went missing after a boat capsized along the River Niger in northern Nigeria. At least eight people were confirmed dead at the scene while local divers were trying to rescue others.

The boat was transporting them to a food market. The incident took place when the boat was taking the passengers from Kogi state along the Niger River to neighboring Niger early Friday morning, Niger State Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ibrahim Audu told The Associated Press on Friday.

According to the report, authorities have not confirmed the reason behind the sinking. However, local media reported that the boat was carrying over 200 passengers, which suggests that it might have been overloaded.

Overcrowding in vehicles is common in the remote parts of Nigeria as there is a lack of good roads which leaves people with no alternative routes.

According to Justin Uwazuruonye, in charge of Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency operations in the state, officials in Kogi are yet to locate the exact location of the incident and are also seeking assistance from other agencies, AP reported. 

Such incidents are increasingly becoming a cause of concern in Nigeria, which is Africa’s most populous nation, as authorities struggle to implement safety measures and regulations for water transportation.

National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) spokesperson Makama Suleiman stated that the boat was carrying mostly traders, who belonged to the Missa community in the central Kogi state and were heading to a weekly market in the neighbouring Niger state, Reuters reported.

"None of the passengers were wearing life jackets, which significantly increased the risk of fatalities," he said.

Most of these accidents have been attributed to overcrowding and the lack of maintenance of the boats, which are often built locally to accommodate maximum passengers possible, flouting safety measures.

As per the report, the Nigerian authorities have not been able to enforce the use of life jackets on such trips, which is mostly due to the lack of availability or cost.