A heartrending boat accident occurred in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on September 2, 2025, resulting in the deaths of no fewer than 29 individuals. The vessel, carrying about 90 passengers including women and children, capsized around 11:30 a.m. after colliding with a tree stump, an incident attributed primarily to overloading.
The boat was en route from Tugan Sule in Shagunu Ward to Dugga for a condolence visit when the tragedy struck. The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed the recovery of 29 bodies and the rescue of 50 survivors, while two passengers remain missing as rescue and search operations continue.
Officials lamented that none of the passengers were wearing life jackets, which significantly increased the fatality rate. The Director General of NSEMA, Abdullahi Baba Arah, highlighted that safety measures, if observed, could have drastically reduced the loss of lives.
This unfortunate incident adds to a troubling pattern of frequent boat mishaps in Niger State and other parts of Nigeria, often linked to overloaded vessels, lack of safety compliance, and inadequate enforcement of regulations. The affected communities have begun mass burials as they mourn the devastating losses.
Efforts persist to locate the missing persons, and authorities continue to call for stricter adherence to safety protocols on Nigeria's inland waterways to prevent such avoidable tragedies.