At least 32 people have died in Nigeria's northern Niger state after a boat sank in a river, an official has reported.
The boat was reportedly overloaded, carrying about 100 passengers including women and children, and capsized when it struck a submerged tree stump on the River Niger in the Borgu area on Tuesday morning. They were en route to a nearby village to pay their respects to a recently deceased individual.
Abdullahi Baba Ara, the spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) in the state, confirmed to BBC Hausa that over 50 individuals were rescued, with eight still missing.
Search operations are continuing, with efforts being made to recover those missing. Mr. Ara mentioned that the government has dispatched a team of 'water marshals' aimed at preventing boat operators from overloading their vessels and ensuring that passengers wear life jackets.
Perhaps the water marshals were not on duty when this boat took off, he indicated, pointing to the need for stricter enforcement of safety regulations.
Local district head, Sa'adu Inuwa Muhammad, who was present at the scene shortly after the incident, reported recovering 31 bodies from the river, along with the sunken vessel.
Boat accidents are not uncommon in Nigeria, often attributed to overloading, poor regulation, and inadequate safety precautions. Approximately 25 people went missing last month following a similar incident in Sokoto state.
In December last year, 54 bodies were recovered from the River Niger after a different boat capsized, suspected to be carrying over 200 individuals. Although the government mandates the use of life jackets for water travel, compliance remains inconsistent.
In response to the rising number of boat mishaps, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, established a 'Special Committee on the Prevention of Boat Mishaps in Nigeria.' Additionally, initiatives to distribute life jackets and enforce 'No Life Jacket, No Travel' policies have been launched in riverine states.
Niger state, being the largest by land mass, sees significant water transport as it is often a faster and more economical way to travel.
