A boat carrying passengers returning from a wedding capsized, leading to more than 100 fatalities.
The disaster occurred on the Niger River, in close proximity to Kwara state in Nigeria, in the early morning of Monday, June 12. Rescue teams engaged in efforts to find any survivors. Police spokesman Okasanmi Ajayi stated that the boat capsized near Niger State, with the current tally of confirmed deaths at 103.
The casualties, comprising women and children, had been celebrating at a wedding in the village of Egboti in Niger state. Local inhabitant Usman Ibrahim validated the devastating news. He noted that the plan was for passengers to utilize motorbikes and bicycles to travel to their individual communities once they had departed from the boat.
The incident occurred around 3 am local time, but many individuals remained oblivious of the tragedy until several hours passed. The passengers were residents of the villages of Kpada, Egbu, and Gakpan in Kwara. Reports indicate that at least 64 people hailed from one village and approximately 40 from another.
Regrettably, it was discovered that most passengers were not equipped with life vests or any safety equipment. Disasters of this nature are not uncommon at the junction of the Niger and Benue rivers. In May 2021, a boat foundered in the same vicinity, leading to an estimated 160 deaths.
