Death toll in Nigerian boat tragedy rises to 32

The number of fatalities has increased to 32 after a passenger vessel capsized earlier this week on the Niger River in Niger State, central Nigeria, a senior official confirmed Friday.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, speaking on behalf of the federal government, conveyed sorrow "with a heavy heart" over the "tragedy" in a message shared on social media platform X. 

This was the first public response from a top government figure since Tuesday’s disaster, when a wooden passenger craft, carrying individuals on a condolence trip, overturned in the Gausawa community of Borgu Local Government Area.

Idris recalled that the accident happened less than four months after destructive floods ravaged the state. 

He assured that "the federal government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), will provide the necessary support to the victims' families and survivors, working closely with the Niger State government to ensure prompt relief and assistance."

Earlier Friday, a spokesman for NEMA informed Xinhua via telephone that 30 corpses had been retrieved and 58 people rescued through intensified search operations. He added that at least two additional bodies were still being searched for, noting the boat was believed to have been transporting around 90 passengers.

Preliminary findings from local officials suggest the vessel was overloaded and struck a tree stump, causing it to sink.

Idris praised the Niger State Emergency Management Agency for spearheading the rescue efforts and responding swiftly to the calamity.

Highlighting that travelers should avoid boat trips without wearing protective life vests, the minister urged Nigerians to prioritize safety while navigating inland waters.

He further announced that the federal government has instructed the National Orientation Agency to roll out a large-scale nationwide awareness drive aimed at educating citizens on safety precautions when using waterways.