Tragedy struck again on Nigeria’s inland waterways as a boat carrying scores of passengers and goods capsized on Saturday in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), in a statement issued on Sunday, confirmed the incident, saying the boat was en route to Kwata Zumba Market when it overturned mid-river.
NSEMA’s Director of Information and Special Duties, Ibrahim Hussaini, disclosed that although the exact number of passengers onboard remains unknown, several were feared dead, while others are still missing.
“Only the boat operator and a few passengers were rescued, with one currently receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Kuta,” Hussaini said.
Search and rescue operations, according to him, are being carried out by NSEMA officials in collaboration with local divers and volunteers.
“The agency received a report of a boat mishap which occurred yesterday. A boat loaded with commodities and an unknown number of passengers heading to Kwata Zumba Market capsized along the route,” the statement read.
Boat mishaps remain a recurring nightmare across Nigeria’s waterways, often attributed to overloading, poor regulation, and the absence of life jackets.
Saturday’s incident in Shiroro adds to a disturbing trend. In November 2024, a similar tragedy claimed the lives of at least 27 people when a boat capsized on the River Niger while ferrying more than 200 passengers from Kogi State to a food market in Niger State. At the time, emergency officials confirmed that over half of the passengers were unaccounted for.
Earlier in October 2024, dozens were also feared dead in another boat accident in north-central Nigeria.
Authorities have continued to warn against unsafe practices, but enforcement has been weak, leaving passengers vulnerable.
As of the time of filing this report, rescue efforts were still underway to recover more victims from Saturday’s disaster.
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