At least 100 people are missing, and eight have died after a boat capsized in northern Nigeria on Friday, according to authorities. The boat sank in the River Niger while traveling from Kogi State to Niger State.
Most of those missing are women, officials reported.
The passengers were en route to a food market when the boat capsized early Friday morning, said Ibrahim Audu, spokesman for Niger state emergency management agency.
Eight fatalities have been confirmed at the scene, according to eyewitness accounts reported by Channels Television. Local divers are working to rescue any survivors, local media added.
The cause of the sinking remains unclear, though reports suggest the boat, carrying over 200 passengers, may have been overloaded. Overcrowding is a common issue in Nigeria’s remote regions, where poor road infrastructure limits travel options.
Kogi officials are still determining the exact location of the incident and seeking assistance from other agencies, said Justin Uwazuruonye, head of Nigeria’s national emergency management agency operations in the state.
