Boat capsizes in Nigeria; 27 aboard confirmed dead, 100 missing

ABUJA, NIGERIA — A boat transporting about 200 passengers to a food market capsized Friday along the River Niger in northern Nigeria, authorities said. At least 27 people were known dead, and more than 100 others, mostly women, were missing.

The boat was going from Kogi state to neighboring Niger state when it capsized, Ibrahim Audu, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency spokesperson, told The Associated Press.

Rescuers pulled 27 bodies from the river by Friday evening, while divers were still searching for others, according to Sandra Musa, spokesperson for Kogi state emergency services.

As of 12 hours after the incident occurred, no survivors had been found, she added.

Authorities have not confirmed what caused the boat to capsize, but local media suggested the boat might have been overloaded. Overcrowding on boats is common in remote parts of Nigeria where the lack of good roads leaves many with no alternative routes.

According to Justin Uwazuruonye, who oversees Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency operations in the state, rescuers had trouble finding the location of the capsized boat for hours after Friday's tragedy occurred.

Such deadly incidents are increasingly becoming a source of concern in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, as authorities struggle to enforce safety measures and regulations for water transportation.

Most of the accidents have been attributed to overcrowding and the lack of maintenance of the boats, often built locally to accommodate as many passengers as possible in defiance of safety measures.

Also, authorities have not been able to enforce the use of life jackets on such trips, often because of the lack of availability or cost.