More than 100 people missing after boat capsizes in Nigeria

A boat accident occurred in northwestern Nigeria, where an overloaded vessel carrying over 300 people capsized at night while returning from an Islamic festival, resulting in more than 100 people missing, mostly women and children. According to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, the locally made boat, which had a capacity of 100 passengers, was traveling on the Niger River when it overturned in the Mokwa area on Monday evening.

Such boat accidents are common in Nigeria, particularly in remote areas where many people have no choice but to travel by water due to the lack of good roads. This is the fourth tragedy involving more than 100 passengers in northern Nigeria since the middle of last year, with many still unaccounted for. Local media reported that 11 bodies, including 9 men and 2 women, have been recovered from the river so far.

As of Wednesday morning, at least 150 people have been rescued with the support of local divers and volunteers, and search and rescue operations are still underway. Abdullahi Baba-Arah, head of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, stated that rescue efforts are being carried out with full force. Salihu Garba, the director of relief and rehabilitation for the state's emergency services, pointed out, "The boat should not have carried more than 100 people, but there were nearly 300 people on board, which led to the vessel breaking apart."

Experts say that most boat accidents in Nigeria in recent years point to regulatory failures, usually attributed to overloading or poor vessel maintenance. These accidents highlight the serious challenges in local transportation safety, requiring more effective measures from the government and relevant authorities to ensure the safety of people's travel.