YENAGOA: At least 20 people were killed in a fire and explosion aboard a wooden boat on a river in Nigeria’s Bayelsa State on Wednesday, according to a police spokesperson.
The boat, which was transporting traders and their goods to coastal communities, caught fire and exploded, as reported by Bayelsa police spokesperson Musa Muhammed on Thursday.
These traders typically make weekly trips between the coastal settlements and the state capital, Yenagoa.
Last year, Nigeria saw around 200 fatalities from boat accidents, often attributed to overcrowding and inadequate maintenance.
