A catastrophic event unfolded in north-central Nigeria, where a boat carrying roughly 300 passengers, including wedding guests, capsized in the Niger River on Monday. The boat had been transporting people from a neighboring village after torrential rains rendered roads impassable. Local chief Abdul Gana Lukpada stated that the vessel collided with a tree trunk, flipped, and the swift river current swept most occupants away.
The wedding had occurred in Egboti village, adjacent to the Niger River. Heavy rainfall led to road flooding, stranding those who had arrived on motorcycles. Consequently, the boat transported these individuals to Kpada, in the Patigi district of Kwara State. The calamity transpired between 3:00 and 4:00 am on Monday.
Of the passengers, only 53 survived, according to Lukpada, with the remainder presumed dead. The local chief called the incident 'a big tragedy,' revealing that he lost four neighbors in the disaster. In response, the police in Kwara sent a team to investigate the scene, as mentioned by spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi.
Kwara State's government expressed condolences to the bereaved families and is closely monitoring rescue operations. Government spokesperson Rafiu Ajakaye provided an update in a Tuesday statement. Regrettably, northern Nigeria is no stranger to such tragedies. Last month, a boat accident in northwestern Sokoto State claimed at least 15 lives.
