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A boat carrying over 100 passengers capsized in Nigeria’s Niger State, resulting in at least 60 fatalities and numerous rescues. Officials say dozens of people were saved, but the death toll continues to rise. The accident happened early Tuesday morning when the vessel set out from Tungan Sule in Malale district en route to Dugga for a condolence visit. Near the Gausawa community in Borgu Local Government Area, it struck a submerged tree stump, causing it to overturn.
Borgu Local Government Chair Abdullahi Baba Ara reported an increasing death count, stating, “The number of fatalities has now reached 60. Ten individuals are in critical condition, and search efforts for others are ongoing.” The incident took place around 11 a.m. local time.
Sa’adu Inuwa Muhammad, the district chief of Shagumi, shared he was on the scene shortly after the event. “I was there yesterday from noon until late afternoon. More than 100 people were on the boat,” Muhammad explained. “We recovered 31 bodies from the river, and the vessel itself was salvaged and removed.” He also noted that four victims were buried according to Islamic customs, with women and children comprising most of the deceased.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency reported ongoing searches by rescue teams and local divers. So far, 29 deaths have been confirmed with 50 people rescued and two still unaccounted for. The agency indicated the boat was overloaded and collided with the tree stump, causing it to capsize.
Frequent boat accidents in Nigeria, especially during the rainy season, are often caused by insufficient safety enforcement, overcrowding, and poorly maintained vessels.
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