Authorities said Friday that at least 100 persons, mostly women, were missing after a boat carrying them to a food market along the River Niger in northern Nigeria overturned.
Ibrahim Audu, a spokesperson for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, told The Associated Press that the boat capsized early Friday morning while transporting passengers from Kogi State across the river to neighbouring Niger.
According to local Channels Television, which cited eyewitness accounts, at least eight individuals were confirmed dead at the scene while local divers attempted to rescue others.
The cause of the sinking has not been confirmed by authorities. The boat was carrying more than 200 people, according to local media, which raised the possibility that it was overcrowded.
In remote areas of Nigeria, where many people lack access to excellent roads, automobile congestion is a typical occurrence.
According to Justin Uwazuruonye, who oversees efforts for Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency in the state, Kogi officials are still unable to pinpoint the precise scene of the disaster and were looking for help from other organisations.
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is seeing an increase in these fatal accidents as authorities find it difficult to enforce safety rules and regulations for water transportation.
Overcrowding and poor boat maintenance have been blamed for the majority of accidents; these vessels are frequently constructed locally to carry as many people as possible in violation of safety regulations.
Because they are either unavailable or prohibitively expensive, authorities have been unable to enforce the usage of life jackets on such journeys.
Source: Africanews.com