ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Most of the 108 people who drowned after a boat capsized off northern Nigeria were women and children, survivors and local authorities told The Associated Press Thursday, coinciding with the end of the search work.
The wooden boat carried more than 250 people on board during the crossing of the Niger River in Kwara state, who were returning home after attending a wedding. The structure collided with a log and broke apart early Monday, survivors said.
One of them, Ibrahim Mohammed, said several small children were brought to shore, “but some of the women did not want to leave their children behind and they drowned.”
Most of the women on that ship had children, (and) most of the people killed are women and young children,” added Mohammed, who said he rescued three children but lost nine others from his own family.
The villagers ended the search operation on Thursday afternoon and all the victims were buried near the river in accordance with local customs, he said.
At least 144 people survived the accident in the Niger, one of Africa’s longest rivers at around 4,100 kilometers (2,500 miles). The boat had a capacity of about 200 people, but at least 250 were on board, said Mohammed Ibrahim Liman, president of the Pategi district, where the incident occurred.
The boat is a common means of transportation in Pategi and in other communities bathed by water throughout the country. Most accidents are attributed to excessive weight and the use of boats in poor condition. In May, another shipwreck left 15 dead, including children.
Monday’s was one of the deadliest accidents in Nigeria’s recent history, according to authorities.
In full mourning, the locals asked the authorities to improve the roads in the area to facilitate land transport.
The country’s president, Bola Tinubu, has pledged that his government will study the problems of inland water transport to ensure that safety regulations are met.
