A tragic boat accident has claimed 13 lives in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State after a vessel carrying 39 passengers capsized on Saturday morning. The ill-fated journey, which began near Guni village around 11:45 a.m., ended in disaster en route to Zumba.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), 26 passengers were rescued alive, while 13 bodies — including those of eight women, three men, and two children — were recovered and buried according to Islamic rites.
Malik Baba Suleiman, Deputy Public Relations Officer of NSEMA, confirmed that a swift search-and-rescue operation led to the prompt retrieval of all deceased victims. Preliminary findings suggest that water turbulence and overloading likely contributed to the accident, although investigations are ongoing.
The tragic event has thrown the Guni-Zumba axis into mourning as authorities renew warnings to river users. NSEMA has urged residents to adhere strictly to maritime safety protocols, especially during the rainy season when water levels rise dangerously.
This incident adds to a troubling pattern of frequent boat mishaps in Niger State. In November 2024, 27 people died in a similar capsizing along the Niger River, while dozens were feared dead in another incident just a month prior. Most recently, 76 people drowned in Anambra State due to a boat accident during severe flooding in December.
Nigeria’s reliance on inland waterways for transportation and commerce continues to expose rural and riverine communities to risks, with safety enforcement often undermined by overcrowding and outdated vessels. Despite regulations from the National Inland Waterways Authority prohibiting overloading and night sailing, compliance remains low.
As calls grow louder for the federal and state governments to improve water transport safety, affected communities are left grappling with grief and uncertainty — yet again.
