At least 24 people have died after a boat capsized in Gbajibo Community, Mokwa Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State.

The boat, according to sources was carrying passengers from Gbajibo, Ekwa and Yankeiade in Mokwa when it capsized on Sunday.

Jibrin Abdullahi Muregi,
Chairman of Mokwa LGA who confirmed the incident, said that 21 corpses had so far been recovered by local divers and have been buried according to Islamic rites, while other bodies are yet to be recovered.

He further informed that efforts were ongoing to rescue the remaining victims.

The cause of the accident is still unknown, but it is believed that the boat may have been overloaded. The boat was reportedly carrying more than its recommended capacity.