More survivors rescued 2 days after Nigeria boat mishap, death toll at 106
Police and villagers on Wednesday rescued more survivors of a boat that capsized in the Niger River in northern Nigeria killing more than 100 people as they returned from a wedding.
Police spokesman Okasani Ajayi said at least 144 people have been rescued since the overcrowded boat capsized early on Monday during a late-night trip in north-central Kwara state's Pategi district. The district is 160 kilometers (100 miles) from Ilorin, the state capital.
The death toll stood at 106, including some children, he said.
It wasn't immediately clear how some of the rescued passengers survived for two days after the accident. Ajayi could not confirm the number of people still missing but locals estimated the boat carried close to 300 passengers.
People are still there, he said of others believed to still be in the water.
Boat accidents are common in many remote communities across Nigeria, where locally made vessels are commonly used for transport, with authorities often blaming overloading