KANO, Nigeria  —  Nigerian police say a boat packed with wedding revelers taking a bride to her new husband capsized on a river and 26 passengers are confirmed dead.

Kano State police spokesman Baba Mohammed said three people survived the accident late Monday and about a dozen other passengers remain missing, including the bride.

Townspeople said the boat hit a tree submerged in the river.

Many Africans rely on water travel to get to destinations unreachable by road. Boats are often packed beyond capacity by captains seeking to maximize profits, and accidents are common.