At least 28 people have died after a boat carrying mostly women and children capsized off Nigeria. The tragedy occurred as the boat, full of more than 100 people, was heading for farmland in Niger state, located about 156 miles from the nearest emergency service.
Because of its remote location, it took emergency services several hours to reach the scene on the Niger River on Sunday. 30 people were rescued from the overturned boat. However, approximately 40 passengers are still missing, and villagers are being asked to be vigilant for bodies floating in the river.
The cause of the accident is still unclear, with authorities speculating that it could be attributed to overloading, obstacles to the movement of the vessel or the condition of the vessel. Niger State Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ibrahim Audu reported on ongoing search efforts.
The governor of Niger, Mohammed Umaru Bago, expressed his deep pain and shock at the tragic event. This is the second major accident of its kind in the region in three months. In July, more than 100 lives were lost when an overloaded boat capsized in a remote part of Niger state, marking one of the most devastating disasters in recent years.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, contains many remote communities that lack access to adequate roads, making river travel the main mode of transportation. The latest tragedy highlights the urgent need to improve security measures and infrastructure in these regions.
This article is sourced from and written by AI.
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