By : Lloyd Mahachi
A boat carrying around 200 passengers capsized on the Niger River in central Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 people. The boat was traveling from the state of Kogi to a food market in the neighboring state of Niger when it capsized late on Thursday.
More than half of the passengers are reportedly missing, according to Ibrahim Audu, a spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency. Rescuers have managed to pull 27 bodies from the river, while local divers are still searching for the missing passengers.
The cause of the accident is not yet clear, but possible causes include turbulence on the waterway and the age of the boat. The absence of life jackets is also thought to have contributed to the high death toll. None of the bodies recovered had life jackets on.
The Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. He noted that most of the victims were women, traders, and artisans who were involved in legitimate business activities.
The accident is the latest in a series of mass drownings on Nigeria’s busy waterways. Authorities have struggled to enforce safety measures and regulations for water transportation. Many of the accidents have been attributed to overcrowding and a lack of maintenance of the boats.
The use of life jackets is also a major concern. Authorities have not been able to enforce the use of life jackets on such trips, often due to a lack of availability or cost. The Nigerian government needs to take urgent action to address these issues and prevent such tragedies from happening again.
The accident has also highlighted the need for better emergency response services in Nigeria. Rescuers had trouble finding the location of the accident for hours, which may have contributed to the high death toll.
The Nigerian government has promised to investigate the accident and take action to prevent such tragedies from happening again. The government needs to work with local communities and boat operators to improve safety measures and regulations for water transportation.
The accident is a tragic reminder of the importance of safety on Nigeria’s waterways. The Nigerian government and local communities must work together to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
Editor : Josephine Mahachi
