29 killed in fresh Niger boat accident

File: Boat accident

Twenty-nine persons have been confirmed dead in a boat accident that occurred in a community called Gausawa in Borgu Local Government Area in Niger State at about 11:30am on Tuesday.

The boat, which was loaded with 90 people, including women and children, was going for a condolence visit in another community.

The cause of the accident was attributed to overloading and a collision with a tree stump. Our correspondent learnt that the passengers were not wearing any lifejackets when the boat capsized.

An anonymous source in the state Ministry of Transport, who preferred anonymity because he did not have any permission to speak with the media, disclosed that the boat passengers were not wearing lifejackets, pointing out that if they were wearing them, more people would have been rescued. Punch