More than twenty-five people die in a boat accident in Nigeria

At least 26 people died in Nigeria’s northern Niger state after a wooden boat they were travelling in capsized in a dam on Sunday.

The vessel was carrying over 100 passengers, including women and children, who live in communities between Jebba and Kainji dam in Mokwa area of the state, before it hit a reservoir.

More than 30 people have been rescued.

“A combined rescue operation by marine police and local divers in collaboration with Niger State Emergency Management Agency is ongoing,” Bologi Ibrahim, the spokesperson to the state governor, said.

The cause of the accident is not yet known.

Mr Ibrahim however blamed overcrowding and lack of life jackets.

Official reports say that most of the passengers were crossing the dam to attend to their farms.

In June, more than100 people died when an overloaded boat traveling to Niger state capsized after part of the vessel collapsed, causing water to flood the boat, in one of the worst such disasters in recent years.

Source: BBC News