ABUJA — At least 25 people were killed after a passenger boat capsized on a river in Nigeria’s Niger state, local media reported Sunday.

The vessel was reportedly transporting marketgoers from the Munya region when it sank in the Shiroro area. Dozens remain missing, according to initial accounts.

Authorities said search and rescue operations are underway, but warned the death toll may rise as efforts continue.

“We are working to locate and rescue the missing passengers,” an official said, without disclosing the total number of people onboard at the time of the accident.

Boat accidents are common in Nigeria during the rainy season, especially on rivers and lakes that serve as vital transport routes for rural communities. — Agencies