More than 20 farmers are feared dead after a boat carrying about 100 farmers capsized in Koko/Besse Kebbi Local Government Area on Tuesday.
Police spokesman in Kebbi, DSP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the accident and promised to release details later.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, the Chairman of Koko/Besse Local Government Council, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, also confirmed the accident.
He said a rickety boat was carrying more than 100 rice farmers to Samanaji, a riverine community in the area.
He said 80 ship passengers have been rescued, while 10 have been found dead and others are still missing.
He assured that rescue operations are ongoing with the aim of rescuing those who are still missing.
“Almost all the passengers are young; little boys and girls. We have found four female and six male corpses.
“We have rescued more than 80 passengers and we are still looking for others who are missing,” he said.
“Before this happened, we had called an emergency meeting with the Dutsin Mari district head and the traditional authorities and leaders of the boat operators in the area.
“The meeting is to enlighten and warn against using rickety boats, old boats, overloading and traveling at night,” the council chairman added.
Bello recalled that the council is deploying 20 new ships by 2022 in an effort to prevent shipwrecks in the region.