User:Knightoftheswords281/sandbox/Kwara boat disaster

On 12 June 2023, a vessel capsized in the Niger River near Pategi, Kwara State, Nigeria. The vessel was carrying attendees of a wedding, who came initially on motorcycles, but were stranded due to heavy rain. At least 103 people have been confirmed dead.

Background
On June 11, a wedding took place in Egboti (alternatively spelled as Egbu) village in Pategi, Kwara State, Nigeria. Most of the attendees were relatives of the newlywed couple from five other villages — Ebu, Gakpan, Kpada, Kuchalu, and Sampi. They partied late into the night. They arrived to the wedding on motorcycles, but were forced to return on a local wooden vessel along the Niger River after heavy rain caused the road leading out of the wedding site to flood.

Boat accidents in rivers in Nigeria are frequent. Lax safely regulations, lack of life vests, overloading, and poor ship-maintenance often lead to fatal boating incidents. Despite nighttime sailing being de jure banned in the country, the law is rarely enforced. Nigerians often turn to transport by boat as a way of getting around the country's poorly maintained roads, especially during monsoon season. Many also turn to the ferry to evade abductions by armed gangs in the country.

In 2021, Nigeria experienced two major boating accidents, one in May with a ship that was carrying 160 individuals aboard that ultimately left at least 98 dead, and another in November that resulted in 76 deaths. Boating accidents have been on the rise in the country in recent years.

Incident
Approximately 270 individuals were loaded on the boat, well above capacity of 100. In addition, their motorbikes were loaded onto the boat as well. It was unclear if all passengers attended the wedding. The transition Implementation Committee Chairman of Patigi, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim Liman stated that people from his village of Ebu were heading to another wedding in Gboti. In the early hours of June 12, between 3 and 4 am (WAT), high waves swept the boat up and collided it with a tree branch hidden within the waters of the Niger River, splitting the vessel into two. The high volume of the water wounded up sweeping the passengers away. Only 53 managed to escape.

Due to the incident occurring in the early hours of the morning, it was hours before anyone else was aware. As the passengers drowned, nearby villagers rushed to the river to rescue them, salvaging around 50 people at first.

At least 103 people have been confirmed dead. Among the dead include a father and his four children.

Search and rescue operations
Rescue efforts were mounted after the incident. Local residents and officials were still participating in the effort as of June 13. Police chief Okasanmi Ajayi stated that the search will continue until the night of June 14. Ajayi has stated that over 100 people have been rescued. Nearly 110 people are still missing. Liman claimed 61 villagers from his village of Ebu, died, as well as 38 from Gakpan, four from Kpada, two from Kuchalu and one from Sampi.

Ajayi stated that the names of the survivors will be made public when available.

Reactions
Locals described the incident as the deadlies boat incident they'd seen in years. The Kwara State government sympathized with the victims and their families, promising to further search operations. The local chief stated in response that he "lost four of my neighbors." The office of Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, governor of Kwara, expressed condolences to the affected families. Mai-Martaba Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Chiefs, offered thoughts and prayers to the affected ones, stating "may Almighty Allah give you all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss this incident might cause you”