More than 100 missing in Nigeria after boat capsizes on river Niger

At least 100 people, mostly women, are missing after a boat transporting passengers to a food market capsized on the river Niger in northern Nigeria early on Friday.

According to Ibrahim Audu, spokesperson for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, the vessel was travelling from Kogi State to neighbouring Niger State when it sank. 

Local divers have so far recovered eight lifeless bodies, with search and rescue efforts ongoing. 

Local media reported that the boat was carrying more than 200 passengers, raising concerns that overcrowding may have contributed to the tragedy. Authorities have yet to confirm the cause of the incident. 

Overloaded boats are a common issue in Nigeria, particularly in remote areas where poor road infrastructure leaves rivers as the primary transport route.

The lack of maintenance on locally built vessels and insufficient enforcement of safety measures, such as the use of life jackets, have made such accidents increasingly frequent.

Justin Uwazuruonye, head of operations for Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency in Kogi, said officials were working to pinpoint the exact location of the incident and had called for assistance from other agencies. 

Deadly boat accidents remain a serious concern in Africa’s most populous country, as authorities struggle to implement and enforce safety regulations for water transportation.