A boat accident in Niger State has claimed 13 lives after a vessel carrying 39 passengers capsized near Guni village in Shiroro Local Government Area.
The incident occurred at about 11:45 a.m. on Saturday while the boat was en route to Zumba, reportedly overloaded with goods and passengers. The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed that 26 individuals were rescued, while all 13 bodies have since been recovered and buried in line with Islamic rites.
Among the victims were eight women, three men, and two children. The accident has plunged the local community into mourning, as families grapple with the loss of their loved ones.
According to NSEMA’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, Malik Baba Suleiman, initial investigations suggest water turbulence and overloading as likely causes of the tragedy. Search and rescue operations commenced immediately after the accident.
The Niger State Government has issued a fresh warning to river users, urging strict adherence to safety guidelines, especially during the rainy season when river levels rise unpredictably.
This latest mishap highlights a growing crisis in water transport safety across Nigeria’s riverine communities. In recent years, similar accidents have claimed dozens of lives:
In November 2024, 27 passengers died after a boat ferrying 200 traders capsized between Kogi and Niger States.
In October, over 300 passengers were on board when a vessel overturned on the River Niger.
In 2023, 29 schoolchildren drowned while collecting firewood.
December’s floods in Anambra saw another 76 lives lost to a boat disaster.
Despite repeated tragedies, enforcement of waterway regulations remains weak. Night travel bans and anti-overloading laws by the National Inland Waterways Authority are often ignored, putting hundreds at risk.
With poor road infrastructure and rising insecurity on highways, many Nigerians rely on river transport—often with deadly consequences.
