Boat Mishap: 29 killed in Kano

Boat Mishap: 29 killed in Kano

By: Our Reporter

At least 29 persons including children were reportedly killed following a boat mishap on Tuesday night in Kano state, North Central Nigeria.

NEWSng gathered that the boat which was supposed to carry only 20 passengers was said to have been overloaded with over 50 passengers, a situation which resulted in the tragedy.

According to reports by AFP, one  Samaila Abdullahi, the boat was meant to ferry only 12 persons less than the number locals in Kano have said.

Abdullahi also said most of the children who died as a result of the mishap are aged between 8 and 15 years.

NEWSng reports that Boat accidents are tragically common on Nigerian waterways mostly due to overcrowding, bad weather and lack of maintenance.

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According to locals in Kano most of the children were from Badau village in Kano state, and were on their way to Bagwai, a town on the other side of the river, for a religious ceremony.

Recall that last month seven girls aged between 10 and 12 drowned in neighbouring Jigawa state when their boat capsized.

Also in June, 13 people died in Sokoto state when a boat ferrying wedding guests capsized.

One of the worst recorded incidents was in May, when more than 150 people went missing after their wooden boat broke in the middle of the river and sank in Niger state.

The National Inland Waterways Authority banned night-time sailing in the area but enforcement has been poor. 

Boat Mishap: 29 killed in Kano