Dozens of people are missing in northwest Nigeria after an overloaded boat carrying about 160 passengers sank in the Niger River, according to a local official.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has declared 156 persons missing in the boat mishap which occurred in Kebi State on Wednesday. Mr Yusuf Birma, NIWA area manager in Yauri Kebbi State, disclosed this, adding that the accident was caused by overloading.
Birma said rescue operation is still ongoing but added that four people have been confirmed dead, 20 rescued alive while 156 people are still missing.
“The boat is carrying 180 passengers with 30 Bajaj motorcycles. The victims were going to a market in Malele in Borgu local government area of Niger state from Kebbi and the incident happened just one hour into their trip. We are still rescuing the victims; the mishap occurred as a result of overloading.
However, President Buhari in a statement issued on Wednesday by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, commiserated with the families of the victims.
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