Approximately 100 people lost their lives when a boat carrying residents who were returning from a wedding sank in northern Nigeria, officials said on Tuesday. The search for survivors continues following the incident.
According to Okasanmi Ajayi, a police spokesperson, the boat capsized in the early hours of Monday on the Niger River, near the bordering Niger state, in the state of Kwara.
Residents, including women and children, who had attended an overnight wedding ceremony in the village of Egboti in Niger state, were among the victims, reports said.
The tragedy occurred around 3 a.m., and due to the limited awareness of the incident, a significant number of victims drowned before authorities were notified.
As of Tuesday afternoon, authorities and community members were still conducting search operations in the river, which is one of Nigeria’s largest.
News by Breaking911