The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has said 160 people died in the boat mishap that happened in Kebbi State. Mot of the travellers are yet to be found.
According to NIWA, only four dead bodies had been recovered “but 156 out of the 180 passengers onboard the boat were still missing and are feared dead.”
The Area Manager of the NIWA in Yauri, Yusuf Birma, told reporters that the mishap occurred due to overloading. However, four corpses have been found.
The official said 20 persons were rescued “and the 156 people missing are feared dead.”
The boat was also carrying 30 Bajaj motorcycles.
The victims from Kebbi were going to a market in neighboring Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State. The boat reportedly broke into two pieces, according to the official.
The official lamented that “the boat involved is a wooden boat which is old and very weak but this people will not listen when we sensitised them to reduce the number of passengers they are carrying with the boat.”
