Dozens of people were missing in Kebbi state Wednesday after an overloaded boat ferrying around 160 passengers sank in the Niger River, a local official said.
The boat left 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. “We are talking of around 140 passengers still missing.”
Wara 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.
