Tragedy on the Niger River: 27 dead, over 100 missing in Nigeria boat disaster!

New Delhi(The Uttam Hindu):At least 27 people are confirmed dead, and over 100 are still missing after a boat capsized in northern Nigeria. The boat, which carried over 200 passengers, was traveling from Kogi state to the neighboring Niger when it sank in the Niger River. By Friday evening, rescuers had recovered 27 bodies, and local divers continued their search. Unfortunately, no survivors have been found 12 hours after the sinking incident.

According to reports, the boat was carrying majorly women to a food market. The cause of the sinking has not been confirmed by the authorities but according to local media sources, overcrowding could be responsible for the sinking. It is common in Nigeria, especially in remote areas, that due to poor road networks, there is overcrowding in transportation.

Rescue teams faced difficulties in tracking down the overturned vessel, which made their search operation difficult. This and many other incidents have caused serious concerns in Nigeria because there are several factors involved such as overcrowding, inadequate maintenance of boats locally constructed, and lack of enforcement of safety regulations including wearing of life jackets.