In Nigeria, river transportation is popular, however during the rainy season, when rivers and lakes overflow with floodwaters, boat accidents frequently occur on poorly maintained and crowded waterways.
On Saturday, a motorized boat carrying over 100 individuals—including merchants and kids—capsized in Taraba State while its route from Karim Lamido area to a market in Mayo Ranewa town across the river.
According to Ladan Ayuba, a regional head of Nigeria's emergency management agency (NEMA), "seventy-three persons are still missing in the boat mishap with 17 bodies so far recovered from the river." This was reported to AFP.
Of the passengers, fourteen were saved. He stated, "There were 104 passengers on board.
The number of fatalities has now reached 18, according to Bryson Ben, a spokeswoman for the Taraba State Emergency Agency (SEMA). One more body was found late on Monday.
Ben stated, "Search and rescue crews are still working, trying to find more bodies in the river."
He claimed that since there was no passenger manifest, it was impossible to tell for sure if the boat held one hundred or less people.
Local officials in Kebbi state, northwest Nigeria, said that a boat carrying fifty passengers sank early this month, leaving forty persons missing and feared dead.