27 dead as boat carrying 138 passengers capsizes in Niger State

A devastating boat accident on Tuesday claimed 27 lives along the Malale–Kainji Lake route in Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State, when a wooden vessel carrying 138 passengers capsized near the Shagunu–Dunga axis.

The incident, reported at 11:49 a.m., prompted a swift response from the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), with rescue teams arriving by 1:33 p.m.

NIWA’s Niger-Kwara Area office manager, Akapo Adeboye, confirmed the recovery of the sunken boat and ongoing rescue operations.

“The wooden boat sank but has since been removed, while rescue efforts are still ongoing,” Adeboye stated.

Of the passengers, 46 men, 58 women, and several children were saved, largely due to life jackets.

Recovery efforts retrieved eight bodies on Monday and 19 on Tuesday.

The operation, coordinated by NIWA’s New Bussa Substation Office, involved NIWA River Marshalls, the Nigerian Shipowners Forum on Waterways (NIGSBOFWA), security agencies, and local leaders.

Adeboye highlighted the collaborative effort, saying, “This partnership has strengthened our resolve to enhance passenger safety and prevent future tragedies.”

Local boat operators and community leaders vowed to support NIWA’s water safety initiatives.

The incident adds to Nigeria’s rising toll of boat mishaps, following a similar accident in Sokoto in August, where the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported, “About 10 persons have been rescued, while more than 40 passengers remain missing” after a boat carrying over 50 people capsized en route to a market.