A boat carrying residents returning from a wedding capsized in northern Nigeria killing about 100 people, police and local residents said on Tuesday, as a search for survivors intensified.

The boat capsized early on Monday on the Niger River in the state of Kwara close to neighbouring Niger state, police spokesman Okasanmi Ajayi said.

“What we gathered was there was a boat that capsized and about 100 people died,” he said.

The victims, including women and children, were returning from an overnight wedding ceremony in the village of Egboti in Niger state, said Usman Ibrahim, a resident.

It was not immediately clear if there were any survivors.

“People in the boat were to take their bikes to their various communities (upon disembarking). The boat was carrying more than 100 people when it sank,” said Ibrahim.

Many of the victims drowned because the accident happened at about 3 am and not many knew of it until hours later, he said. “Up till now, some dead bodies are still being searched (for)."

As of Tuesday afternoon, officials and locals were still searching for more bodies in the river, which is one of Nigeria’s largest. (AP)