Dozens of people are feared dead after a boat they were traveling in capsized in a river in Kebbi State.
The incident reportedly took place yesterday, around 10 a.m., and reports from the area said efforts are being made to rescue the victims.
The boat, according to reports, was traveling from Lokon-Minna in Niger State to Wara town in Kebbi State, carrying more than 160 people including men, women and children.
According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, (BBC) Hausa Service, in addition to carrying above the required number of people, it was also carrying sacks of sand mined from the gold mine.
The chairman of Ngaski local government area of Kebbi State, Abdullahi Buhari Warah, who visited the scene to monitor the rescue operation, described the incident as a tragedy.
It was reported that some passengers removed the life jacket due to the heat and gave others.
The chairman further said they have sent out seven boats for a rescue mission and expressed his hope that they will rescue more people before the day ended.
