Many feared dead as boat with 160 passengers capsizes in Kebbi

Scores of people were declared missing on Wednesday after an overloaded boat ferrying around 160 passengers sank in the Niger River, Kebbi State, a local official said.

The boat left central Niger State and was heading to Kebbi State when it split and sank, Abdullahi Buhari Wara, administrative head of Ngaski district, said.

“A rescue operation is underway but only 22 survivors and one dead body have been recovered,” Wara said, adding, “We are talking of around 140 passengers still missing.”

He blamed the Kebbi accident on overloading as the boat was meant to ferry not more than 80 passengers.

The vessel was also loaded with bags of sand from a gold mine, the official said.

Early this month 30 people drowned when an overloaded boat capsized in central Niger State.

The boat ferrying 100 local traders split into two after hitting a stump during a storm as they were returning from a local market, according to emergency officials.