More than 100 people have died after drowning due to a boat that capsized down Niger River, authorities have confirmed.
The boat carried 300 passengers who were traveling from Niger State after attending a wedding. Part of the vessel had collapsed, causing the boat to capsize when water began to flood inside.
While more than 100 passengers died, more than 100 were rescued. Some are still missing.
The Emir of Patigi Ibrahim Umar Bologi II, the traditional ruler of the area where the incident took place, said more than 150 people are believed to have drowned.
One survivor told BBC that many women died attempting to save their children. Mohammed Alhassan survived alongside his sister, but his son, 7, drowned. Aisha Mohammed, another survivor said all three of her daughters died in the tragic accident. They were all preparing to marry soon.
“The incident was very sad, and it shocked the whole community,” Mohammed Sallihu, a relative of one of the victims, told AFP.
Kwara state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq sent “heartfelt condolences” to the victims and their loved ones, adding that search crews are still looking for survivors.
“He visited the affected villages on Wednesday and promised to provide them with one thousand life jackets to kickstart a safety education initiative,” according to BBC.
“He also said he had initiated discussions with the National Inland Waterways Authority on how to better enforce safety regulations.”
Meanwhile, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed that he is “deeply saddened by the news of the tragic boat accident that claimed the lives of our people in Kwara State. That the victims were guests at a wedding ceremony made the unfortunate accident more painful.”
People typically use the river to get from one side of the country to the other, which they say is faster than roads, but the report added that accidents are common because boat operators sometimes overload the boats to earn more money.
