At least 29 people lost their lives after a boat carrying around 80 passengers capsized on the Malale River in Nigeria’s north-central Niger state, rescue officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The accident took place on Tuesday as the boat was en route from the village of Tugan Sule to Dugga, said Abubakar Idris, a representative of the Red Cross, speaking to AFP.
According to a statement from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the tragedy was caused by overloading and a collision with a tree stump. SEMA reported that 29 bodies have been recovered, 50 people were rescued, and two passengers remain missing.
Boat accidents are frequent on Nigeria’s waterways, often due to poor safety practices, lack of maintenance, and overcrowding.
