Emergency responders in Nigeria are actively searching for over 70 individuals who disappeared during the weekend following the sinking of a boat carrying local traders in a river in the northeastern part of the country, as reported on Monday.
River transportation is a frequent mode of travel in Nigeria; however, boat accidents frequently occur on inadequately supervised water routes due to issues such as overcrowding and insufficient maintenance. These concerns are particularly pronounced during the rainy season when rivers and lakes become inundated with floodwaters.
A motorized boat, carrying over 100 passengers, including traders and children, overturned in Taraba State on Saturday while en route to a market in the Mayo Ranewa village, located on the opposite side of the river from the Karim Lamido district.
“Seventy-three persons are still missing in the boat mishap with 17 bodies so far recovered from the river,” Ladan Ayuba, a regional head for Nigeria’s emergency management agency (NEMA) told media.
“Fourteen of the passengers were rescued. There were 104 people onboard,” he said.
Bryson Ben, the spokesperson for the Taraba State Emergency Agency (SEMA), reported late Monday that an additional body was retrieved, bringing the total death toll to 18.
“Searching and rescue teams are still at work looking for more bodies in the river,” Ben said.
He mentioned the absence of a passenger manifest, making it challenging to precisely ascertain if there were indeed 100 passengers on board the boat.
At the beginning of this month, local authorities reported that a boat carrying 50 passengers capsized in Nigeria’s northwest Kebbi state, resulting in 40 people going missing and presumed dead.
