16 dead, scores missing in Nigeria boat capsizing

KANO, Nigeria: At least 16 people have died and scores are missing after a boat carrying hundreds of passengers capsized in north-central Nigeria, officials said on Wednesday.

The passengers, mostly women and children, were on their way to celebrate the Muslim festival Mawlid when the accident took place on Tuesday, said Abdullahi Baba Arah, head of the emergency agency for Niger State.

He said the boat was carrying almost 300 people on a stretch of the River Niger at Gbajibo Community, near Mokwa, when it ran into trouble at around 8:30 pm (1930 GMT).

He did not specify the cause of the accident, but said “brave local divers” and volunteers had helped find around 150 survivors.