A devastating Boat accident in Nigeria's north-central region has claimed the lives of at least 50 people, with several others still missing, according to local residents and state officials.

The incident occurred on Monday night when an overloaded wooden boat carrying passengers from a wedding ceremony in Niger state capsized while ferrying them across a river to Kwara state.

The exact number of people on board the boat remains unclear, but the Kwara state government confirmed that the victims hailed from five villages. Rescue operations are currently underway in the hopes of finding survivors.

In a statement, the governor of Kwara state expressed condolences to the affected communities, stating, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by this tragic boat mishap.” The statement also highlighted the ongoing efforts to locate any missing individuals.

As of now, the Kwara state police spokesperson has not provided additional information on the incident.

Due to concerns about abduction by armed gangs on roads, some Nigerians opt to travel by boat to nearby destinations. However, the combination of overcrowding and inadequate maintenance frequently leads to boat accidents on Nigerian waterways.