A passenger boat capsized in strong currents in northwest Nigeria’s Kebbi state, leading to at least 40 people missing and presumed to have drowned, according to a local official on Tuesday.
Boat accidents are a common occurrence on Nigeria’s poorly regulated waterways, often attributed to overloaded boats, inadequate maintenance, and lax safety measures.
“We are still searching for 40 passengers with the help of local divers and believe they have drowned,” said Bala Mohammed, the administrator of Yauri district, where the accident happened on Monday.
“It is a difficult search due to the high water level and strong currents as a result of the rainy season.”
In a similar incident last month, officials reported that at least 24 bodies were recovered, and 50 individuals were declared missing when a boat carrying over 100 farmers capsized while crossing the Niger River in Niger state.
Just two days prior, emergency officials reported that 10 individuals drowned and three remained missing after a boat carrying traders overturned in a lake in northeastern Adamawa state.