Tragic Boat Accident Claims 26 Lives on Niger River in Nigeria

Abuja, Nigeria — An unfortunate incident occurred on the Niger River in north-central Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of at least 26 people, as confirmed by officials on Wednesday. The tragedy unfolded on Tuesday in the Ibaji area of Kogi State. Most of the passengers on board were traders en route to a market in the neighboring Edo State, according to Kingsley Fanwo, Kogi State's commissioner for information.

The exact cause of the accident remains unknown at this time. "This is a heartbreaking loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased, as well as the entire Ibaji local government area, in this moment of grief," expressed Fanwo in a statement. He further assured that the Kogi State government is committed to collaborating with federal agencies to enhance waterway safety and prevent the recurrence of such accidents.

Boat accidents are a common occurrence during the rainy season in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa. Many of these incidents are attributed to overloaded and poorly maintained vessels, which often operate without life jackets, as analysts have noted. Just last month, at least 31 individuals lost their lives when an overloaded boat collided with a tree trunk in the Borgu area of Niger State.

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