By Olanrewaju Kola

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) – Police said Wednesday that 106 people have been killed in a boat accident in northcentral Nigeria.

Police spokesman Okasanmi Ajayi said the boat with 250 passengers capsized Monday because one of its engines failed.

“On leaving the shore, one part of the boat by the engine side collapsed where water penetrated the boat, which ultimately led to the boat capsizing,” he said in a statement.

“Among the casualties were people from Ebu Village with 61 casualties, Dzakan Village with 38, Kpada Village with 4 dead, and three (3) other casualties from Kogi State, putting the total number of casualties at 106,” he said.

The boat was returning from a wedding in Gboti village in Patigi Local Government in Kwara State.

A search operation, combining the efforts of police and residents led to the rescue of 144 people who are receiving medical attention, according to police.

A youth leader in the area, Aliyu Musa, told Anadolu that bodies were pulled from the river during rescue operations which started early Tuesday.

President Bola Tinubu expressed sadness about the accident.
“I am deeply saddened by the boat accident that claimed the life of our people in Kwara State,” he said Wednesday.

He urged relevant agencies to investigate the circumstances that led to the accident and promised to improve waterways and water transportation to reduce accidents.

The accident occurred days after an alert was issued on possible flooding and the risk of rivers overflowing their banks as rainfall increases in most parts of the country.

[Map of Nigeria from CIA Factbook/Public Domain]