More than 100 people, primarily women and children, are missing after an overloaded boat capsized while returning from an Islamic festival in northwestern Nigeria, authorities reported Wednesday. The locally made boat, designed for 100 passengers, had approximately 300 individuals aboard when it overturned along the Niger River in Niger state’s Mokwa district on Monday night, according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency.
Boat disasters are frequent in Nigeria, particularly in remote areas where inadequate road infrastructure limits transportation options. This incident marks the fourth tragedy involving over 100 passengers in northern Nigeria since mid-2023, with many victims still unaccounted for.
Local media have reported the recovery of 11 bodies, including nine men and two women. By Wednesday morning, at least 150 people had been rescued, aided by local divers and volunteers, according to Abdullahi Baba-Arah, head of Niger state’s emergency services.
Salihu Garba, director of relief and rehabilitation at the state emergency services, stated, “The boat was not supposed to carry more than 100 persons, but there were almost 300 people on it. That caused the boat to break apart.” Experts attribute many recent boat disasters in Nigeria to regulatory failures, often due to overloading and poorly maintained vessels.
