A tragic accident in Nigeria has left over 100 people missing after a wooden boat carrying mostly women and children capsized in Niger State. The boat, which was only supposed to carry 100 passengers, was carrying about 300 people when it overturned in the Niger River in the rural Mokwa district. The passengers were returning from an Islamic religious festival when the incident occurred on Tuesday night.
Rescue workers and volunteers have managed to rescue 150 people so far, but the search for more survivors is ongoing. Some bodies have been recovered, with reports varying on the exact number. The boat had been traveling from Mundi to Gbajibo for the Annual Maulud celebration when the accident happened.
This tragic event is reminiscent of another major disaster in Niger State 18 months ago, where over 100 people were killed in a boat accident. Experts attribute these frequent boat disasters in Nigeria to regulatory failures, including overloading and poorly maintained boats. Salihu Garba, the director of relief and rehabilitation at the state emergency services, stated that the boat in this incident was carrying almost three times its capacity, leading to its breakage.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, and authorities are working to determine what happened. The devastating incident once again highlights the need for stricter regulations and better enforcement to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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