Over 60 dead as dozens rescued in Niger boat tragedy

At least 60 people have died and dozens more have been rescued after a passenger boat capsized in Niger State, north-central Nigeria, local officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The boat, which was carrying over 100 passengers, set out from Tungan Sule in the Malale district around 11 a.m. local time and was heading towards Dugga town on the Kainji Reservoir before disaster struck.

Sa’adu Inuwa Muhammad, the district head of Shagumi, said he arrived at the scene shortly after the accident. According to him, “We were able to recover 31 corpses from the river. The boat was also recovered and removed.” By tuesday evening, the number of bodies recovered had risen to over 60, with dozens of survivors pulled out of the water.

Women and children made up the majority of the deceased, Muhammad added. Four victims were buried the same day in line with Islamic burial rites.

Though the exact cause of the accident remains unclear, locals say the boat was overloaded and may have struggled against strong water currents. Witnesses noted that the passengers included farmers and traders traveling to Dugga for business and market activities.

Passenger boats are a common means of transport in riverine areas of Nigeria, especially in communities cut off from good roads. However, these boats are often overcrowded, poorly maintained, and lack basic safety equipment such as life jackets.

Residents of the area told reporters that the ill-fated vessel was loaded far beyond its safe capacity. Boats meant for about 50 to 60 passengers are sometimes used to carry more than 100 people, along with goods and livestock, increasing the risk of accidents.

“Many people rely on these boats because they are cheaper and faster, but safety is not guaranteed,” one resident said. “There were so many people inside, including women and children. That is why the casualties are so high.”

Some survivors said the boat started swaying not long after it left Tungan Sule. “It tilted suddenly and before we knew it, water rushed in and the boat went down,” one rescued passenger recalled. Another survivor said that people panicked and jumped into the river, making the situation worse.

Without life jackets, most passengers struggled to stay afloat. Villagers nearby rushed with canoes to help, but many had already drowned by the time help arrived.

Boat accidents are common in Nigeria, particularly in the rainy season when rivers swell and currents become stronger. Poor regulation of water transport, aging vessels, and lack of enforcement of safety rules have made such incidents frequent.

In recent years, similar tragedies have claimed dozens of lives in states like Kebbi, Sokoto, and Niger. In May 2021, more than 100 people died after a boat carrying over 160 passengers capsized in Kebbi State. Just last year, another deadly boat mishap occurred in Anambra State, killing at least 70 people.

Local authorities and emergency workers have been coordinating search and rescue operations, though limited resources have slowed down the process. The Niger State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that efforts were ongoing to account for all passengers.

Officials have appealed for more boats and divers to aid recovery efforts. They also urged communities along the Kainji Reservoir to assist in looking out for missing persons who may have been swept downstream.

The state government expressed sadness over the tragedy and promised to investigate the cause of the accident. Officials also pledged to enforce stricter rules on boat operators to prevent future disasters.

For the families of the victims, the tragedy has brought untold sorrow. Many of the dead were women and children who depended on farming and petty trade for survival. In some households, multiple members were lost at once.

A villager whose sister and two nieces died in the accident described the incident as “a dark day for our community.” He said the victims had been traveling to Dugga to sell farm produce when the accident happened.

Community leaders and rights groups have renewed calls for the government to prioritize river transport safety. They argue that many of these tragedies can be prevented with strict regulation, improved monitoring, and the provision of life jackets.

“Boats should not be allowed to carry more than their capacity, and every passenger should have a life jacket,” one activist said. “We cannot continue to lose lives to accidents that are preventable.”

Experts also say that improving rural infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, could reduce dependence on risky boat travel.For now, the focus remains on recovering the remaining bodies and providing support for survivors and families of the deceased. The tragedy has once again highlighted the dangers faced by rural communities that rely heavily on water transport in the absence of safer alternatives.