At least 27 people have been confirmed dead following a tragic boat mishap that occurred on Tuesday along the Malale–Kainji Lake route in the Gausawa area of Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State.
The wooden boat, reportedly carrying 138 passengers, capsized around 11:49 a.m. near the Shagunu–Dunga axis on Kainji Lake. The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) rescue team arrived at the scene at approximately 1:33 p.m.
According to eyewitnesses, the passengers were en route to a local market when the boat capsized. NIWA-led rescue efforts, supported by local authorities and community members, managed to save 104 individuals, including 46 men, 58 women, and an undisclosed number of children — many of whom were wearing life jackets.
However, the death toll has risen to 27, with eight bodies recovered on Monday and an additional 19 on Tuesday.
“The wooden boat has since been removed from the water, while rescue operations are still ongoing,” said Akapo Adeboye, Manager of NIWA’s Niger-Kwara Area Office.
He noted that the operation was coordinated by NIWA’s New Bussa Substation, with assistance from NIWA River Marshals, the Nigerian Shipowners Forum on Waterways (NIGSBOFWA), security agencies, and local community leaders.
Adeboye praised the collaborative efforts, which he said have reinforced the need for sustained water safety measures and community engagement to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Local boat operators and community leaders have pledged to support NIWA in enhancing safety protocols across the waterways.
This latest incident adds to a disturbing pattern of fatal boat accidents in Nigeria’s inland waterways, often linked to overcrowding, poor regulation, and lack of safety equipment.
In August, over 40 passengers went missing after a boat carrying more than 50 people capsized in Sokoto State while heading to a market. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that only 10 people were rescued, while the rest remained unaccounted for.
Earlier that same month, at least 16 farmers drowned in Sokoto when their wooden canoe capsized while crossing a river to reach their rice fields.
On July 29, six girls died in Jigawa State after a boat ferrying them home from farm work capsized midstream. Just two days prior, another tragedy in central Niger State claimed 13 lives in yet another boat accident.
These recurring incidents have renewed calls for improved regulation, stricter enforcement of passenger limits, mandatory life jacket use, and increased investment in modern water transport infrastructure.
Authorities are urging residents who rely on river transport to observe safety guidelines, avoid overcrowded boats, and ensure the use of protective gear at all times.
