By Charles Maduka
A boat accident on the Niger River along the Niger-Benin border has claimed the lives of 13 people, according to local sources.
The incident occurred on Wednesday near Gaya in Niger Republic and Malanville in Benin Republic. The ill-fated boat, commonly referred to as a pirogue, was carrying mostly Nigerien passengers when it capsized mid-river.
Though the cause of the accident remains unclear, eyewitnesses suspect overloading—a common issue with small river transport vessels in the region. Search and rescue efforts were still ongoing as of Thursday.
Despite closed land borders between the two countries due to diplomatic tensions, local residents continue to rely on the river route for daily movement of goods and people.
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