At least 50 dead after Nigerian boat capsizes
Friday, 15/09/2017 16:58 (GMT+7)
At least 50 persons are reported killed after a boat capsized in northwestern Nigeria, many probably from the neighboring Republic of Niger, according to officials.
“We are aware of the unfortunate incident which occurred around Lolo in the village of Bagudo, on the River Niger,” in Kebbi state, Suleiman Mohamed of Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said.
“There were 53 victims who are thought to have died, since divers couldn't see them, while 47 were rescued,” he added.
Mr. Mohamed said around 150 people were on board the boat when it capsized, but other sources said about 100. There was no word on the fate of other passengers, or why the boat capsized.
The Chairman of the Bagudo local Government Council in Kebbi, Alhaji Muhammad Zagga, said that the authorities in the Republic of Niger had deployed 500 divers to search for the missing./.
Compiled by BTA
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