The Director-General of the agency in Niger State, Alhaji Abdullah Baba-Araha, stated in a press release that the accident occurred on Tuesday morning at approximately 11:30. He explained that the boat was carrying about 90 passengers, including women and children, according to the local newspaper “The Guardian Nigeria.” He added that the boat had departed from the village of Tugan Suli to the town of Duga to participate in a condolence visit before the accident occurred.
He indicated that “29 bodies have been recovered, 50 people have been rescued alive, while two are still missing,” confirming that search and rescue operations are ongoing. The Director-General of the agency suggested that overloading and the boat colliding with a tree trunk were likely the causes of the tragic accident.
In Nigeria, weak safety measures and boat maintenance are often recorded, leading to dozens of casualties annually.
