At least 100 people have lost their life as a boat carrying families on the way back from wedding turned over in north central Nigeria.

The incident makes the latest boat accident in Nigeria where river capsizes are common due to overloading, lax safety procedures and heavy flooding in the rainy season.

The boat was ferrying people in Kwara State from a wedding in neighboring Niger State when it went down, local police and officials said Tuesday, without giving the cause.

"So far we have 103 people dead and over 100 rescued from the boat accident," Kwara State police spokesman Okasanmi Ajayi told AFP by telephone.

The death toll is feared to rise as rescue teams continue search operation.
The Kwara State governor's office said the victims had been returning from a wedding ceremony to Kwara's Patigi district.

"The governor is sad to receive reports of the boat accident involving several people, particularly residents of Ebu, Dzakan, Kpada, Kuchalu, and Sampi, all in Patigi," the statement said.

"The governor sends his heartfelt condolences to the people of these communities."

The governor was monitoring the rescue efforts which had been underway since Monday night in search of possible survivors, it said.

"He commends the alertness of (traditional ruler) the Etsu Patigi His Royal Highness Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bologi II and other local government authorities for the efforts to save as many people as possible who may have survived the mishap."

Such river accidents are unfortunately common in Nigeria.

Last month, 15 children drowned and 25 others went missing after their overloaded boat capsized in northwest Sokoto State as they were on their way to collect firewood.

With poor road infrastructure a frequent problem and kidnapping for ransom a major issue along some highways, riverboat travel for transport and trade is common in Nigeria.

Nigeria's National Inland Waterways Authority has tried to ban night-time sailing on rivers to stop accidents and says overloading ships is a criminal offense, but skippers and crews often ignore the regulations.