10 Killed In Kebbi Boat Accident

Authorities blames overloading as boat broke into two

A boat carrying more than 100 women and children broke apart on a river in Kebbi State on Wednesday, resulting in at least ten fatalities.

The boat, which was transporting people from a farm back to the River Niger, broke in half as it approached Samanaji hamlet in the Koko-Besse district, according to a local official who spoke to AFP earlier.

It had been overloaded with passengers “beyond its capacity,” said Yahaya Bello Koko, the political administrator of the district.

“We have recovered 10 passengers with the help of local divers while searches for 10 others still missing” continue, said Koko.

“The 10 missing are presumed to have drowned, considering the long hours they have spent in the river.”

More than 80 passengers were rescued, he added.

Nafiu Abubakar, a police spokesperson in Kebbi, commented on the incident and said that search efforts are still ongoing to see if any of the missing people can be found.

On Nigerian waterways, capsizing is a frequent occurrence because of frequent overloading and poor upkeep.

According to Kebbi state officials, in May 2021, some 100 traders perished after their boat ruptured from overloading and sank in the same river.