Authorities in Niger state in north-central Nigeria have reported that 25 people are confirmed dead after a wooden boat carrying more than 100 passengers capsized here on Saturday, July 26.
Search and rescue operations have been ongoing in Niger's Shiroro area since the late afternoon (local time) of Saturday when the incident occurred but have been hampered due to the reported presence of armed lawless groups in the area, an official of the country's National Emergency Management Agency told the Associated Press.
The same official said that the number of casualties may rise as some of the boat's occupants have gone missing following the capsizing.
Local media reported that the deceased included a family of 10.
Another official confirmed that the boat's captain, who was among the survivors, said that he himself was not certain as to the exact number of people who were on board when the incident occurred.
A member of a local boat operators' union said that the ill-fated vessel may have been overloaded.
Nigeria has become known for its poor passenger vessel safety record, as shown by data collected by ferry safety advocate and Baird Maritime Co-Founder Dr Neil Baird over the last few years.
"Nigeria was second worst [country in terms of fatal ferry accidents in 2024] with 423 fatalities from 13 incidents," Dr Baird wrote earlier this year. "The main factor that seems to be saving Nigerians from fates as bad as their Congolese brethren is that they tend to travel on smaller ferries."