At least eight individuals have lost their lives, and several are yet to be accounted for after a boat capsized in the north-central Niger state of Nigeria on Monday, as reported by emergency services.
The unfortunate victims hail from Dugga village and were en route to neighbouring Kebbi State to sell grains and sugarcane.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) disclosed that the boat mishap on Monday resulted in the loss of eight lives, with numerous individuals still missing.
Ibrahim Hussaini, spokesperson for Niger’s Emergency Management Agency, stated that five women and three men lost their lives in the boat capsize.
While ten people were successfully rescued, ongoing search and rescue operations aim to locate those still missing.
The incident adds to a concerning statistic, with more than 1,200 lives lost in boat accidents across Nigeria from 2018 to 2023, as reported by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR).
Attributed factors include overcrowding, the absence of life jackets, and inadequate maintenance, spotlighting the urgent need for enhanced safety measures on Nigeria’s waterways.