A mishap occurred when a boat carrying people to a food market along the River Niger in Northern Africa capsized on Friday, killing at least 27 people and leaving over 100 people, primarily women, missing.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ibrahim Audu told The Associated Press that approximately 200 people were going from the state of Kogi to the neighboring state of Niger. However, few were only rescued but after 12 hrs now, there is no hope for others. Overcrowding on boats is common when no alternative routes are available.
Rescuers struggled to locate the capsizing for hours after Friday’s disaster, reported Justin Uwazuruonye, who oversees Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency operations in the state.
Such incidents are very common in the most populated nation in Africa, where authorities find it difficult to enforce water transportation safety rules and regulations. Hope the authorities come up with solutions in future by deploying more boats and keeping an eye.
