Many Feared Dead As Boat With 160 Passengers Capsizes In Kebbi
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Capsized boat with passenger and cargo
Dozens of people have been declared missing in northwestern Nigeria on Wednesday, after an overloaded boat ferrying about160 passengers sank in the Niger River, a local official said.
The boat left central Niger state and was heading to northwest Kebbi state when it split and sank, Abdullahi Buhari Wara, the administrative head of Ngaski district said.
“A rescue operation is underway but only 22 survivors and one dead body have been recovered,” Wara said.
He said further that, “We are talking of around 140 passengers still missing” from the boat.
Wara blamed the Kebbi accident on overloading as the boat was meant to ferry not more than 80 passengers.
The vessel was also loaded with bags of sand from a gold mine, the official said.
Early this month, 30 people drowned when an overloaded boat capsized in central Niger state.
The boat ferrying 100 local traders split into two after hitting a stump during a storm as they were returning from a local market, according to emergency officials.
By-: Ayoola Olaitan
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