At least 27 people die in Nigeria boat accident

At least 27 people have died when a boat capsized on the Niger River in central Nigeria, the local emergency management agency says.

The final death toll from the accident late on Thursday would be known once a search and rescue operation ended, Kogi State Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Sandra Musa said.

"So far, 27 bodies have been recovered, but (the) rescue operation is still ongoing," Musa told Reuters.

More than 100 people, mostly women, were still missing on Friday.

The boat was carrying mostly traders from Missa community in central Kogi state heading to a weekly food market in neighbouring Niger state, a National Inland Waterways Authority representative said.

None of the passengers were wearing life jackets, which significantly increased the risk of fatalities, the spokesperson said.

with AP