Over 70 missing in northern Nigeria after boat capsizes
More than 70 people are reported missing following a tragic boat accident in Taraba State's Ardo-Kola district in northern Nigeria. The incident occurred late Saturday afternoon on the Benue River as a boat carrying traders returning from a fish market capsized.
Ladan Ayuba, the head of Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency told reporters that over 100 passengers were on board the boat with 14 people rescued and 17 bodies recovered. 73 people were unaccounted for, he added.
Taraba Governor Agbu Kefas, in a statement released on Monday, labelled the accident a "monumental tragedy" and has ordered the mandatory use of life jackets for boat passengers.
The governor emphasized the importance of the region's waterways becoming a source of prosperity rather than a recurring source of death.
Boat accidents frequently occur in isolated areas around Nigeria; in the last four months, there have been three such incidents involving more than 100 passengers.
The majority of these occurrences are linked to overloading, which is made worse by the poor quality and accessibility of the roads in these locations.
Authorities are actively investigating the cause of this accident, with Taraba police spokesperson Usman Abdullahi stating that the challenging river conditions, including high water levels, may extend the rescue operation for several days. Local residents and fishermen have joined the efforts to assist rescue agencies in their search for survivors and victims.
