73 Missing, 17 Dead After Boat Capsizes in Northern Nigeria; Third Such Incident in Four Months

Boat filled with over 100 traders returning from fish market overturns in the Benue River with 14 confirmed rescued, revealing a persistent issue of deadly water accidents due to potential overloading in Africa's most populous nation.

• A boat ferrying traders from a fish market in Ardo-Kola, Taraba State, capsized on the Benue River, one of Nigeria's largest rivers, causing more than 70 people to go missing.
• National Emergency Management Agency reported that out of over 100 passengers on board, 14 have been rescued, and 17 bodies have been recovered, leaving 73 individuals unaccounted for.
• Taraba Governor, Agbu Kefas, has lamented this being a 'monumental tragedy', also advocating the use of life jackets among boat passengers to prevent such catastrophes.
• This incident is the third of its kind in just four months, marking a persisting issue of deadly water accidents in Nigeria, largely attributed to overloading and inadequate infrastructure such as good, accessible roads.
• The investigation into the cause of these frequent accidents is underway, with local community members and fishermen participating in the rescue operations.

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