Scores ‘Drown’ As Boat With 160 Passengers Capsizes In Kebbi

An overloaded boat ferrying around 160 passengers on Wednesday sank in the Niger River, with many people reportedly missing.

This was disclosed by the administrative head of Ngaski district, Abdullahi Buhari Wara.

He stated that the boat left central Niger state and was heading to northwest Kebbi state when it split and sank.

“A rescue operation is underway but only 22 survivors and one dead body have been recovered.

“We are talking of around 140 passengers still missing,” he told Nigeria News.

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.

The boat was also ferrying passengers including men, women and children.