A devastating boat accident in Niger has left eight confirmed dead, with over 200 passengers affected. Rescue operations are ongoing as authorities search for survivors.
In the early hours of Friday, a tragic boat accident took place along the Dambo-Ebuchi section of River Niger, leading to multiple fatalities.
Eyewitnesses reported that the boat, owned by Musa Dangana, was transporting more than 200 passengers — among them market women and farm laborers — on its way to the weekly Katcha market in Niger State.
Tragically, the vessel capsized, casting everyone on board into the water. Rescue efforts are in progress as local divers strive to recover the victims’ bodies.
At the time of this report, eight bodies have been recovered, and search and rescue efforts are ongoing to find the remaining passengers.
This tragic incident follows closely on the heels of a similar one that happened on October 1, 2024, at the Muwo Gbajibo River in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, which also resulted in numerous fatalities.
Initial reports suggest that no passengers were wearing life jackets during the accident, which may have led to the high number of casualties.
The authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the latest incident, but it is anticipated that an investigation will be initiated to ascertain the cause of the accident.
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In the past year, Nigeria has experienced multiple boat accidents resulting in numerous fatalities.
Last week, a boat accident in the Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State resulted in five fatalities and several injuries.
The unfortunate event involved a collision between two speedboats carrying family members who were returning from a burial ceremony.
The boats capsized following the collision, throwing passengers—most of whom lacked life jackets—into the water.
In September 2023, a comparable incident occurred in Niger State when a boat carrying more than 50 passengers overturned.
Approximately 24 people on their way to the farm for harvest lost their lives in the incident.
The Nigerian waterways authority has previously attempted to ban nighttime travel on rivers and emphasizes that overloading vessels is illegal. However, crews frequently violate these regulations.
