Twenty dead as boat with pupils sinks in Nigeria

By Ishaq Khalid

A boat carrying more than 50 people has capsized in the northern Nigerian state of Kano. 

Police say 20 bodies have been recovered and seven people rescued so far following the accident on Tuesday evening.

Officials and residents told the BBC that the boat was carrying dozens of people from the village of Badau to the town of Bagwai, where they were due to attend an Islamic religious ceremony. 

Many of the victims were pupils.

A police spokesperson in Kano state says a search and rescue operation is under way. Those rescued so far have been taken to a hospital for medical attention. 

It’s not yet clear what caused the boat to capsize. 

In Nigeria, such accidents are often blamed on overloading and poor maintenance of the boats as well as a lack of proper regulation by the authorities. 

At least seven girls drowned when a boat overturned in neighbouring Jigawa state barely two weeks ago.

In May, more than 100 people died in Kebbi state in a similar accident.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: AFP