A boat accident in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State has resulted in the confirmed deaths of at least 25 people, including 10 members of a single family.
The incident occurred on Saturday at approximately 2 p.m. when a boat transporting passengers from Guni in Munya Local Government Area to a weekly market capsized after colliding with a submerged tree log.
According to the Sarkin Ruwa of Zumba, Umar Isah, the majority of those on board were traders travelling to the Zumba market. He stated that one family lost 10 members, while another reported five individuals missing.
Although the exact number of passengers remains unknown, it is estimated that about 25 people lost their lives, with several others still unaccounted for.
Isah explained that the wooden boat, which was reportedly overcrowded, capsized midstream after hitting an underwater tree trunk. The lack of life jackets and regulatory oversight of inland water transport in the area has been cited as a contributing factor to the incident.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed the accident. The agency’s Director of Information and Special Duties, Ibrahim Hussaini, said rescue operations are ongoing, with local authorities and emergency volunteers involved in search and recovery efforts. He noted that the death toll could rise as the search continues.
This incident follows a pattern of similar accidents in the state. In May 2021, more than 70 people died in Warrah when an overloaded boat capsized, and in December 2022, over 100 people lost their lives in the Mokwa area during a boat journey involving wedding guests.
Observers have attributed the recurring nature of these incidents to inadequate enforcement of safety regulations, insufficient river transport infrastructure, and a lack of compliance with passenger and weather guidelines.
Local leaders and residents have called on the government to implement measures such as the provision of safer boats, mandatory use of life jackets, and formalised transport policies to mitigate future occurrences.
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