Nigeria Incident: Tragedy Strikes as Boat Sinks in Niger River, Killing 27 and Leaving Many Missing
Nigeria Incident: 27 people have died, and several are missing after a boat capsized in the Niger River near Dambo, Kogi state. The river, over 600 meters wide in some areas, became the site of the tragedy.
At least 27 people died, and many others are still missing after a river ferry capsized in the Niger River in Nigeria's Kogi state on Friday in a tragic boat disaster. The accident happened near Dambo, an area where the mighty Niger stretches more than 600 meters across.
Nigeria Incident: 27 Dead, Many Missing After Boat Capsizes
The boat was said to carry more than 50 people, though it is not known how many are on board since records are rarely kept. Local authorities and emergency responders are searching for survivors and more victims. State emergency management official Sandra Musa confirmed that 27 bodies have been recovered but the cause of the accident is still under investigation. It could have been brought about by turbulence, or the boat may have come into contact with an obstacle in the river, said Musa. The boat which is suspected to be above 20 years old didn't have life jackets. Since boat operators usually do not provide life jackets, those bodies recovered were not wearing the life jackets.
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This is the third reported drowning incident in Nigeria's waters within the last two months. The incidents follow months of mass drownings with many people reportedly drowning over overloading and lack of adequate safety measures. In May, a boat capsized with 300 passengers aboard - mostly women and children who were going to attend the Muslim festival in Niger State - killing an estimated 100 people. More than 40 farmers died in a similar accident on the Gummi River in Zamfara State in September. One of the deadliest accidents occurred in June 2023 when a boat carrying over 250 passengers capsized in Kwara State, killing over 100 people.
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has expressed his deep sorrow over the incident. Most of the victims, he said, were women, traders, and artisans who were contributing to the local economy. He appealed to both private boat operators and local authorities to take urgent action to raise safety standards and prevent such tragedies.