At least 13 people have lost their lives, and 26 others were rescued in a tragic boat accident that occurred Saturday near Guni village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The vessel, overloaded with passengers and goods, capsized en route from Tungan Lemu in Munya LGA to Zumba, sparking grief and renewed calls for safety reforms.
Among the deceased were eight women, three men, and two children. Their bodies were recovered and buried according to Islamic rites, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed on Sunday.
The agency’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, Malik Baba Suleiman, stated that a swift search-and-rescue operation resulted in the recovery of all victims and the rescue of 26 survivors.
The accident is believed to have been caused by a combination of water turbulence and overloading—factors that have contributed to numerous boat disasters in the region.
The incident has plunged the local community into mourning and drawn the attention of public officials, including Senator Sani Musa, who represents the Niger East Senatorial District.
Reacting to the incident in a condolence statement, Senator Musa expressed deep sorrow over the loss and described the mishap as a grim reminder of the persistent dangers afaced by riverine communities in their daily quest for livelihood.
“This tragic loss of lives is a painful reminder of the vulnerabilities many of our rural communities face in the course of daily survival,” he said.
The senator prayed for the souls of the departed, asking Allah to grant them Al-Jannah Firdaus, and extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families while wishing strength to survivors and the affected community.
Beyond mourning, Senator Musa called for a decisive government crackdown on unsafe water transport practices.
He emphasised the need for stricter enforcement of waterway safety protocols, warning that continued disregard for existing regulations puts countless lives at risk.
“Our people’s safety must never be compromised. All stakeholders must ensure compliance with safety protocols, avoid overloading, and refrain from circumventing established regulations,” he warned.
Musa also urged relevant agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and scale up public awareness campaigns and enforcement operations across riverine areas.
Saturday’s disaster is the latest in a string of deadly boat mishaps in Niger State and across Nigeria. In November 2024, at least 27 people perished when a boat capsized on the Niger River while ferrying traders to a food market.
A similar incident occurred in October when a boat carrying over 300 passengers overturned, and just a year earlier, 29 children drowned while travelling to gather firewood.
The recurring fatalities have highlighted longstanding safety concerns, including poor vessel maintenance, inadequate enforcement of regulations, and a lack of awareness of water safety rules.
Although the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has attempted to regulate the sector by banning nighttime travel and criminalising overloading, compliance remains low—particularly in rural areas.
Senator Musa stressed that such tragic losses are preventable and must no longer be treated as routine.
“The lives of our citizens are too precious to be left to chance,” he said. “May Allah continue to protect our people and guide us towards safer, more responsible practices.”
Meanwhile, the Niger State Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening water safety enforcement. NSEMA has warned residents to take extra precautions, especially during the rainy season, when increased water levels and turbulence make river travel more hazardous.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation and have promised to support affected families while working toward long-term solutions to the recurring crisis on Nigerian waterways.
