Dozens feared dead as boat with 160 passengers capsizes in Kebbi
Dozens of people have been reported missing in northwest Nigeria on Wednesday after an overloaded boat ferrying around 160 passengers sank in the Niger River.
EyewitnessMedia gathered that the boat which left central Niger state and was heading to northwest Kebbi state when it split and sank, Abdullahi Buhari Wara, administrative head of Ngaski district said.
“A rescue operation is underway but only 22 survivors and one dead body have been recovered,” Wara said. “We are talking of around 140 passengers still missing.”
Wara blamed the Kebbi accident on overloading as the boat was meant to ferry not more than 80 passengers, as the vessel was also loaded with bags of sand from a gold mine.
Early this month 30 people drowned when an overloaded boat capsized in central Niger state.
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