Thirteen people have been confirmed dead and dozens are missing after a boat carrying about 13 passengers capsized on Saturday in Niger state in north-central Nigeria while heading to a market, authorities said on Saturday, Reuters reported. 

A total of 26 people, mostly women and children, were rescued from the wooden boat, said Yusuf Lemu, an official with Niger State's Emergency Management Agency. 

Local official Isiaku Akilu said the boat driver, who was among those rescued, could not confirm the number of passengers on the boat. 

"The exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined, but from all indications, it appears to have been an overload," Akilu said. 

Adamu Ahmad, a member of the boat drivers' union, confirmed that the boat was overloaded. He said it was a large wooden boat and efforts were being made to recover more bodies. 

Niger state is home to three of Nigeria's major hydroelectric dams, and boat accidents have become a common occurrence. Saturday's accident came nine months after a boat carrying mostly women and children returning from a religious festival capsized, killing at least 60 people. 

Rescue operations have been suspended for the time being to allow the river keeper to perform rituals that would ensure a "smooth rescue mission," Akilu said.