Twenty-six people die in Nigeria boat accident

Boat accidents are common in Nigeria due to issues including poor safety practices (GETTY IMAGES)

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At least 26 people died in northern Nigeria after a wooden boat they were travelling in capsized in a dam on Sunday.

The vessel was carrying over 100 passengers, including women and children, who live in communities between Jebba and Kainji dam in the Mokwa Local government Area of the state, before it hit a reservoir.

More than 30 people have been rescued.

A combined rescue operation by marine police and local divers in collaboration with Niger State Emergency Management Agency is ongoing, Bologi Ibrahim, the spokesperson to the state governor, said.

The cause of the mishap is not immediately clear.

Mr Ibrahim however blamed overcrowding and lack of life jackets.

Official reports say that most of the passengers were crossing the dam to attend to their farms.

In June, more than 100 people died when an overloaded boat travelling to Niger state capsized after part of the vessel collapsed, causing water to flood the boat, in one of the worst such disasters in recent years.

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