No fewer than 29 people have lost their lives, while two others remain missing, after a boat carrying about 90 passengers capsized in Gausawa, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday as passengers, mostly women and children, travelled from Tugan Sule in Shagunu ward to Dugga community for a condolence visit.
Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the development on Wednesday. He said 50 passengers had been rescued, while search and rescue operations were ongoing for the missing persons.
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“The mishap was caused by overloading and collision with a tree stump. As at the time of reporting, 29 dead bodies have been recovered, 50 rescued, while two remain missing,” Baba-Arah stated.
It was gathered that none of the passengers wore life jackets during the trip. A transport ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, lamented the refusal of many passengers in riverine areas to wear protective gear despite repeated safety warnings.
The accident is the second in Niger State this year. A similar incident in July claimed more than 200 lives in Mokwa, also caused by collision with a tree stump. Following that tragedy, the National Inland Waterways Authority distributed life jackets to riverine communities.
