At least 33 people were killed today in Kebbi State in north-western Nigeria when two boats collided in a fiery accident on the Dole-Kaina River.
Eight other people suffered serious injuries in the accident, said acting state governor Ibrahim Aliyu.
He said about 48 passengers in one of the boats were still missing.
Aliyu said bodies were retrieved from the river and immediately buried by the riverside, as dictated by Islamic practise.
The injured were taken to a nearby hospital, he said.
Most of the victims were traders returning from a market when their boat collided with a cargo vessel ferrying petroleum products, Aliyu said.
He said the passenger boat burst into flames after the collision and was gutted by the fire.
Aliyu said efforts had been intensified to recover other bodies still missing in the river.