At least 60 people have died after a boat capsized in Niger State, located in north-central Nigeria, while dozens of others were rescued, local officials said on Wednesday.
According to Abdullahi Baba Ara, chairman of Borgu Local Government Authority, “The death toll from the boat accident has reached 60 and may rise further.” He added that 10 people were seriously injured, while many others remain missing.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency said rescue workers and local divers have been deployed to search for those still unaccounted for.
The accident occurred around 11 a.m. local time on Tuesday near the Gausawa community, when an overloaded boat struck a tree stump and overturned. More than 100 people were on board at the time. Many of the victims were women and children, according to Shagumi community leader Sadu Inuwa Mohammed.
Boat accidents are frequent in Nigeria, often caused by overloading, poor weather, and operational errors.
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