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Nigeria: Dozens dead or missing after boat capsizes in river

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More than 100 passengers, mostly women, are still missing after a boat capsized on the Niger river. The search and rescue operation in ongoing.At least 27 people died on Friday after a boat capsized in the Niger River in central Nigeria.More than 100 others — mostly women — are still missing, authorities said.

Some 200 passengers were taking the boat across the river — which acts as a border between the states of Kogi and Niger — to a food market when it capsized, Ibrahim Audu, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency spokesperson said. None of the passengers were wearing life jackets.

The final toll is likely to increase, Kogi state authorities warned, as local divers were still looking for the missing and no survivor was found 12 hours after the incident.

Overcrowded boat

“It’s not clear what caused the accident,” Sandra Musa, spokesperson of the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency said.

“It could be from turbulence or from the boat hitting a snag. Boat operators don’t usually have life jackets, so none of the bodies recovered had life jackets on,” she said. Musa added that the age of the boat might have played a role.

Local media reported that the boat was overcrowded.

The Niger River reaches a width of more than 600 meters (almost 2,000 feet) in this part of its course. Authorities said rescuers had trouble finding the location of the boat for several hours after the incident occurred.

Authorities struggle to set safety measures

Drownings from overloaded, capsized boats are common in remote parts of Nigeria where there is a lack of good roads for transport.

Hundreds of people have been killed in similar incidents in recent years.

In June 2023, over 100 people diedwhen a boat carrying around 250 people sank in the state of Kwara.

The country’s authorities have tried but struggled to implement safety measures such as the use of life jackets, regular boat maintenance and refraining from onboarding people above capacity.

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Residents Rush To Scoop Groundnut Oil As Another Tanker Overturns In Niger, Three Days After 98 Were Killed In Explosion.

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January 22, 2025

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Trending videos show dozens of residents in Bida town, Niger State, collecting groundnut oil after a tanker overturned near Shafa filling station in the Esso area.

According to reports, the incident occurred on Tuesday morning, just three days after the deadly tanker explosion on Dikko-Maje Road, near Badeggi filling station in Suleja Local Government Area, which resulted in the loss of 98 lives.

Reports indicate that those gathered to collect the spilling fuel were caught in an explosion, which also impacted those trying to assist the victims.

The fire spread across a large area, leaving behind charred remains and widespread destruction.

The explosion is said to have occurred around 9:00 am while efforts were underway to transfer PMS from the overturned tanker to another vehicle.

Despite the recent tragic incident in Suleja Local Government Area, new videos from Tuesday morning show residents in Bida approaching the fallen truck with jerry cans and buckets to collect the spilled groundnut oil near a filling station in the town.

 

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Ekweremadu’s wife returns to Nigeria after release from UK prison

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3 hours ago

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January 22, 2025

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Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu, wife of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has returned to Nigeria, according to the Vanguard Newspaper.

It will be recalled that Senator Ekweremadu, his wife, and Dr. Obinna Obeta were sentenced by a UK court on charges related to organ harvesting.

The former Deputy Senate President was sentenced to 10 years in prison, while Mrs Ekweremadu received a six-year sentence.

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Gunman opens fire on wedding guests in Kebbi, killing 9-year-old child and leaving one other injured

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January 22, 2025

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A nine-year-old child, Al’amin Garba has been killed after a man identified as Muhammad Sani opened fire at guests at a wedding ceremony in Kebbi State.

Another child, Bello Shehu who is seven years old was also said to have been injured during the attack.

The incident was said to have occurred in Koko/Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State

While Garba died instantly from a gunshot wound in his head, Shehu sustained severe injuries to his ribs.

He has been admitted to a medical facility in the area while the shooter has been arrested.

Speaking on the incident, the commissioner of police for Kebbi command, Bello Sani condemned the incident.

He appealed to residents to submit every firearm in the possession to the police for public safety.

He also called for a thorough investigation and immediate prosecution of the shooter.

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