60 dead, many missing after boat sinks in Nigeria

Abuja: A boat accident in the northern state of Niger in Nigeria has killed 60 people and left several missing.

According to the British news agency, the boat was heading from Tongan Sule, a town in the Malale district of Niger state, to Dogga when it hit a tree trunk in the river near the north-central region and capsized.

According to local authorities, there were more than 100 passengers on board the boat.

Local authorities say that the death toll in the accident has risen to at least 60. Some people have been rescued alive, and several are missing, and rescue operations are underway to find them.

It is pertinent to note that boat accidents are common in Nigeria during the rainy season.

In Africa's most populous country, these accidents usually occur due to excessive weight on the boat and the poor condition of the boats.

Experts say that most of these boats operate without life jackets.