Residents and police are still searching for dozens of people on board an overloaded boat that capsized early Monday on the Niger River in Kwara state’s Pategi district, police spokesman Okasanmi Ajayi said. He added that about 100 people had been rescued so far.
The Niger River, where the boat capsized in Nigeria. Photo: Getty
Most of the drowned were relatives from several villages who had come together for a wedding and party that lasted until late at night, said Abdul Gana Lukpada, a local headman. He said they had come to the ceremony on motorbikes but had to leave by boat after heavy rains flooded the roads.
“The boat was overloaded and had nearly 300 people on board. While it was moving, the boat hit a large piece of wood in the water and split in two,” Lukpada said. Since the accident happened at 3 a.m., it took many hours for many to learn what had happened.
Lukpada said that after the incident, nearby villagers rushed to the scene and saved about 50 people, describing initial efforts to rescue the victims as very slow and difficult.
As of Tuesday afternoon, officials and locals were still searching for more bodies in the Niger River, one of Nigeria’s largest rivers. Police spokesman Ajayi said the rescue operation would continue through the night and into Wednesday.
Locals said it was the worst boat accident they had seen in years. Lukpada said that by Tuesday evening, the bodies found had been buried, mostly near the river, in accordance with local custom.
Boat accidents are common in many remote communities across Nigeria, where locally made boats are often used for transportation. Most accidents are due to overloading and poor maintenance.
Hoang Anh (according to AP, AFP, CNN)
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