A tragic incident in north-central Nigeria has led to fears of multiple casualties following the capsizing of a boat carrying over 300 passengers on the River Niger.
The disaster occurred on Tuesday night, according to Abdullahi Baba Arah, head of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA).
Local council chairman Abdullahi Muregi reported that approximately 60 bodies have been recovered from the site of the accident, while Arah confirmed that around 150 individuals have been successfully rescued.
Many of those on board were women and children, travelling to participate in celebrations for the Muslim holiday of Mawlid.
Mr Arah praised the “prompt response” from community volunteers, who have been attempting to rescue the passengers with “brave” local divers.
The ill-fated boat was en route from a locality known as Mundi, with many passengers travelling to Gbajibo for Mawlid, which celebrates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
While Mr. Arah did not specify the reason behind the boat’s capsizing, such incidents are unfortunately frequent on the River Niger, the third-longest river in Africa.
This is especially true during the rainy season, when water levels rise significantly.
The boats navigating this river are often old and heavily loaded, and obstacles like tree branches floating in the water can create hazardous conditions.
In a similar incident in September of the previous year, at least 24 individuals lost their lives when a boat capsized in the same vicinity, while carrying over 50 passengers who were traveling to work on their farms.