Authorities in northwestern Nigeria have reported a tragic incident where an overloaded boat capsized, resulting in more than 100 people, mostly women and children, going missing. The incident occurred on Monday night in Niger state's Mokwa district as the boat, with a capacity of 100 passengers, was carrying around 300 individuals back from an Islamic festival along the Niger River.
Boat disasters are unfortunately common in Nigeria, particularly in remote areas where the lack of proper infrastructure forces many to rely on water transportation. This latest incident marks the fourth tragedy involving over 100 passengers in northern Nigeria since mid-2023, with a significant number of individuals remaining unaccounted for.
Reports indicate that 11 bodies, comprising nine men and two women, have been recovered from the river thus far. A search and rescue operation involving local divers and volunteers has managed to rescue at least 150 individuals by Wednesday morning.
According to officials, the boat was severely overloaded, carrying nearly triple its intended capacity, which led to its tragic overturning. The incident underscores the regulatory failures in Nigeria's water transportation sector, with many boat disasters in recent years being attributed to overloading or poorly maintained vessels.
