- Over 32 confirmed dead as overloaded boat capsizes in Niger State.
- Boat hit a tree stump while heading for condolence visit, say officials.
- Over 50 rescued, 8 still missing; rescue operations ongoing.
At least 32 people have lost their lives after a boat capsized on the River Niger in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on Tuesday morning.
According to reports garnered by Eko Hot Blog, the ill-fated boat, said to be carrying over 100 passengers including women and children, was heading to a nearby village where the occupants planned to condole with a bereaved family.
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It reportedly struck a submerged tree stump, causing it to overturn.
Officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the state confirmed that over 50 people were rescued, while eight others remain unaccounted for.
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing.
Speaking on the incident, Abdullahi Baba Ara, the agency’s spokesperson in Niger State, stated that the government had already introduced “water marshals” to curb overloading and enforce the use of life jackets, but added that those responsible may not have been present when the boat departed.
“It’s possible the marshals weren’t on duty when the boat left the shore,” he said, noting that an investigation is underway to determine what went wrong.
A local traditional leader, Sa’adu Inuwa Muhammad, who was present at the scene, said he arrived shortly after the incident and witnessed recovery efforts.
“I was there from around 12 noon till 4pm. The boat had over 100 passengers. We managed to retrieve 31 bodies and also brought the boat out of the water,” he said.
Boat accidents remain common in Nigeria’s riverine communities, often linked to overloading, weak enforcement of safety rules, and the lack of life jackets.
Just last month, another tragic boat mishap occurred in Sokoto State, with about 25 people reported missing.
In response to recurring incidents, the federal government has taken steps to improve water safety.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, earlier this year inaugurated a Special Committee to tackle boat mishaps. In May, the ministry also began distributing 42,000 life jackets across 12 states.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has since launched a safety campaign tagged “No Life Jacket, No Travel” and “No Night Travelling” in accident-prone areas like Niger and Kwara States.
Niger State, being the largest in landmass, has many communities that rely heavily on water transport as a faster and more affordable means of travel.
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