At least 30 people drowned in a river in the remote north-western Nigerian state of Kebbi after two dug-out boats they were travelling in collided head-on, the Red Cross said on Friday.
One of the boats was laden with petroleum products when it collided with the other boat, which was carrying traders who were returning from a village market in Dandi district. Both boats went up in flames.
”Two boats collided … at about 4am [local time]. Thirty people lost their lives,” a Red Cross official told Reuters.
About eight passengers who sustained injuries in the accident were taken to a hospital for treatment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said 33 bodies were recovered from the Dole-Kaina River, a tributary of Nigeria’s main Niger river, and buried immediately in accordance with Islamic rites.
NAN quoted Kebbi state acting governor Ibrahim Aliyu as saying 48 other passengers were missing.
Nigerian water ways and roads are plagued by frequent deadly accidents. Police usually blame such accidents on overloading, speeding and poorly maintained vehicles.
In July, at least 20 passengers, who were travelling at night, drowned in the Benue River when their boat capsized.
It often takes several days for news of accidents in remote parts of Nigeria to be reported in the national media. — Reuters