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Dozens die in after boat sinks in Nigeria's Niger state Niger state boat capsize: Dozens die in Nigeria
(about 2 hours later)
Boats are a common means of transport in Nigeria (file photo)Boats are a common means of transport in Nigeria (file photo)
Dozens of people have died in Nigeria's northern Niger state after a boat carrying about 100 people sank in a river. At least 32 people have died in Nigeria's northern Niger state after a boat sank in a river, an official has told the BBC.
The reportedly overloaded boat, carrying passengers including children, capsized when it struck a submerged tree stump near the Gausawa community in Borgu Local Government Area, officials said. The reportedly overloaded boat, said to have been carrying about 100 passengers including women and children, capsized when it struck a submerged tree stump on the River Niger in the Borgu area on Wednesday morning.
The state's emergency agency said 29 people had died and more than 50 others were rescued, with search operations continuing. A local official told the Reuters news agency that the death toll had risen to 60. Abdullahi Baba Ara, the spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) in the state, told BBC Hausa on Thursday that more than 50 other people had been rescued, with eight still missing.
The incident reportedly occurred around 11:30 on Tuesday morning on the Malale River, after the boat had departed from Tungan Sule in Malale district. Search operations are continuing.
The district head told Reuters that he had been at the scene soon after the accident. Mr Ara said the government had set up a team of "water marshals" to stop boat operators from overloading their vessels and ensure passengers wear life jackets.
"Perhaps the water marshals were not on duty when this boat took off," he said, adding that investigations had started.
A local district head told the Reuters news agency that he had been at the scene soon after the accident.
"I was at the scene yesterday around 12 pm until 4 pm. The boat carried more than 100 people. We were able to recover 31 corpses from the river. The boat was also recovered and removed," Reuters quoted Sa'adu Inuwa Muhammad as saying."I was at the scene yesterday around 12 pm until 4 pm. The boat carried more than 100 people. We were able to recover 31 corpses from the river. The boat was also recovered and removed," Reuters quoted Sa'adu Inuwa Muhammad as saying.
Abdullahi Baba Ara, the head of Borgu area said the toll had "risen to 60. Ten people have been found in serious condition and many are still being sought," Reuters reports.
Boat accidents are fairly common in Nigeria, often due to overloading, poor regulation and inadequate safety precautions.Boat accidents are fairly common in Nigeria, often due to overloading, poor regulation and inadequate safety precautions.
Last month, about 25 people went missing after a boat accident in Sokoto state. About 25 people went missing last month after a boat accident in Sokoto state.
In December 2024, 54 bodies were recovered from the River Niger after a boat that may have been carrying more than 200 passengers capsized. In December last year, 54 bodies were recovered from the River Niger after a boat that may have been carrying more than 200 passengers capsized.
You may also be interested in: The government has made it mandatory for water travellers to always wear life jackets, but this is often not enforced.
In February, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, set up a "Special Committee on the Prevention of Boat Mishaps in Nigeria", and in May the ministry announced that it would be distributing 42,000 life jackets across 12 riverine states in the country.
Later in the month, the National Inland Water Ways Authority (NIWA) kicked off a campaign they called "No Life Jacket, No Travel", and "No Night Travelling" in Niger and Kwara states where boat accidents have occurred regularly in the recent past.
Niger state is Nigeria's largest by land mass and people tend to travel a lot by water as it is often the fastest and cheapest means of getting around.
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Should I stay or should I go? The dilemma for young NigeriansShould I stay or should I go? The dilemma for young Nigerians
'I thought I would die with my six children' - survivor of Nigeria dam collapse'I thought I would die with my six children' - survivor of Nigeria dam collapse
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
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