Overloaded vessel carrying farmers and fishermen sinks in latest tragedy on Nigeria’s perilous waterways.
At least 26 people have drowned and 14 others are missing after a passenger boat capsized in northeast Nigeria, authorities confirmed Sunday.
The vessel, described as a rudimentary local boat, was traveling from Jigawa State to Yobe State when it overturned late Saturday. Mohammed Goje, Executive Director of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, told AFP that emergency teams had recovered 26 bodies so far.
Thirteen passengers were rescued from the water, and search operations continue for the 14 individuals still missing, Goje said.
The boat was reportedly carrying a group of farmers and fishermen. No further details on the victims have been released.
The incident highlights the persistent dangers of river travel in Nigeria, where accidents are frequent due to overcrowding, poor vessel maintenance, and widespread non-compliance with safety regulations. Dozens perish each year in similar tragedies across the country’s vast and often poorly regulated waterways.
Authorities have not yet stated the exact cause of the capsizing, but overloaded boats are a common factor in such disasters.
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