The boat that capsized late Saturday in the Benue River, one of Nigeria‘s largest, was carrying traders returning from a fish market in Taraba state, the national emergency services said.
Of the more than 100 passengers on board, 14 have been rescued, 17 bodies have been recovered and 73 are missing, Ladan Ayuba, head of Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency, told The Associated Press.
Taraba Governor Agbu Kef described the accident as a huge tragedy and instructed passengers to use life jackets.
“Our water body, which is one of the longest in the region, should be a real source of prosperity, not death,” his office said in a statement on Monday.
Such disasters are a common occurrence in the remote communities of this West African country. This is the third accident involving more than 100 passengers in the last four months. Most of them occur due to overload. Those areas often lack good, accessible roads.
Taraba police spokesman Usman Abdullahi said authorities are investigating the cause of the latest incident. Rescue services are assisted by local residents and fishermen.
U. Abdullahi said he feared that the operation could last several days because the current of the river is very strong.
“We don’t even expect the bodies to be anywhere near,” he said.
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