A ferry in Nigeria overturned on Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 individuals and leaving many others unaccounted for, according to officials who spoke about the latest incident in a series of mass drownings occurring on the nation’s congested waterways.
The incident took place on the Niger River, near Dambo in Kogi state, at a section where West Africa’s largest river can exceed 600 meters in width.
“It is uncertain how many people were on the vessel, as there is no usual practice of keeping passenger records,” stated Sandra Musa from the state’s emergency management agency. Search and rescue operations are still underway to find survivors and possibly recover bodies. He reported that 27 bodies had been found.
Abubakar Abdullahi, a Kogi State Red Cross spokesman, mentioned that the boat allegedly had over 50 passengers aboard. Villagers and volunteers downstream from the site of the accident have been asked to remain vigilant for any bodies that may surface.
“The cause of the accident remains unclear,” Musa said.
“It might have been due to rough waters or the boat striking an obstacle. Typically, boat operators do not provide life jackets, and none of the retrieved bodies were wearing them.”
“The condition of the boat may have contributed to the incident. While a boat’s lifespan is generally between five and ten years, it is common to encounter vessels that are over 20 years old. We will have a clearer understanding of the situation tomorrow.”
The office of Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo released a statement expressing sorrow over the fatalities and calling on private boat operators and local authorities to enhance safety measures.
Ododo expressed particular concern that a majority of the victims were women, small-scale traders, and artisans engaged in legitimate business to support themselves and contribute to the state’s economy.
Friday’s incident marks the most recent tragedy in a string of boating accidents along this section of the Niger River, which flows from Nigeria’s northeastern border to the central region and onward to the Gulf of Guinea.
Last month, approximately 100 individuals were feared dead after a boat carrying 300 passengers, predominantly women and children, capsized in the river during their journey to a Muslim festival in Niger State.
In September, an overloaded boat sank while transporting over 50 farmers across the Gummi River in Zamfara state, with more than 40 presumed dead.
