At Least 60 Dead After Boat Carrying 300 Sinks In Nigeria

At least 60 people were killed after a boat capsized in north-central Nigeria. The boat, which was carrying more than 300 passengers, reportedly sank on Tuesday night on the River Niger around the Gbajibo Community. The passengers, mostly women and children, were returning from a religious festival when the incident occurred.

Meanwhile, more than 150 people had been rescued, and nearly 80 were still missing by Wednesday, reported The New York Times. Reports indicate that the rescue operations are still ongoing. However, it was not yet clear why the boat sank. The third-longest river in Africa is the Niger River, where the incident took place.

As per the report, boat accidents are a recurring issue in the West African nation. Overloading, lax safety regulations, and poor maintenance are the main reasons for the deadly incidents in Nigeria. Although sailing at night is prohibited nationwide, the legislation is still not strictly implemented.