At least 54 dead following northern Nigeria river boat capsizing

The BBC reports that 54 people were killed while several others are unaccounted for after a passenger boat capsized in the Niger River in Kogi State in northern Nigeria on Friday, November 29.

The ill-fated vessel was reportedly carrying more than 200 people at the time of the incident. However, the exact number of occupants remains unknown, as such vessels operating on the Niger often do not keep passenger records.

Kogi State emergency response officials said only 54 bodies and 24 survivors have so far been recovered in the wake of the tragedy. Residents of nearby communities have also been advised to be on the lookout for any floating bodies that may have gotten swept downstream by the river's strong current.

Search and rescue teams were still scouring the surrounding waters as of Sunday, December 1, in an attempt to locate those individuals who were initially reported missing. Authorities are also looking into reports that many of the boat's passengers were not wearing lifejackets when the capsizing occurred.

Fatal maritime accidents in Nigeria, particularly in the country's more remote communities, have been attributed to regulatory lapses. Mishaps that resulted in death in these areas in recent years have been caused by factors such as overloading, lack of vessel maintenance, and failure to clear waterways of obstructions.