At least 76 people were killed after a boat capsized in the southern state of Anambra at the weekend, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari confirmed.
In a statement on Sunday, Buhari acknowledged that rescue agencies had officially reported the death toll of the tragedy on Friday and expressed his grief.
A passenger boat carrying 85 people capsized in the Ogbaru area of Anambra State on Friday, following rising floods in that area, according to the statement.
An investigation had been launched to determine “other causes of the incident” besides floods, Thickman Tanimu, the southeast zonal coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), was quotes as saying by local media.
Following the tragedy, Nigeria’s National Inland Waterways Authority and the NEMA have embarked on rescue and recovery missions in Anambra.
Buhari said he has directed other rescue and relief agencies to rush to the site, urging the relevant government agencies to check the safety protocols on local transport ferries to make sure such incidents can be avoided in the future.
UNI/XINHUA PRT
76 killed in Nigeria boat capsize
1 min read
You might be interested in
Latest from International
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Saturday identified India as a key pillar of stability
A high-stakes Situation Room session promised a “final determination,” of Iran-US deal but after two long
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth struck a notably transactional tone at the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue
Qatar has staunchly rejected reports that it offered billions of dollars to Iran in an effort
Pakistan staunchly rejected the possibility of becoming a signatory to the Abraham Accords on Monday after