Niger State emergency rescue officers stated the overloaded vessel sunk after hanging a submerged tree stump.
Revealed On 4 Sep 2025
At the very least 60 folks have died and dozens extra have been rescued after a ship carrying greater than 100 passengers capsized in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State, in keeping with native officers.
The vessel departed from the city of Tungan Sule in Malale district at about 11am native time (10:00 GMT) on Tuesday morning, and was heading in the direction of the city of Dugga on Nigeria’s Kainji reservoir.
The Niger State Emergency Administration Company (NSEMA) stated on Wednesday that the incident occurred when a vessel struck a submerged tree stump close to the Gausawa group in Borgu Native Authorities Space.
“The trigger was attributed to overloading and collision with a tree stump,” the company advised native newspaper, Each day Belief.
NSEMA stated girls and kids had been on board the vessel, which it stated was heading to Dugga for a “condolence go to”.
Abdullahi Baba Ara, NSEMA’s director normal and chair of Borgu Native Authorities Space, stated the variety of casualties was nonetheless rising whereas rescue operations had been persevering with “for attainable restoration of lacking individuals”.
“The dying toll of the boat incident has risen to 60,” he advised the Reuters information company.
“Ten folks have been present in critical situation, and lots of are nonetheless being sought,” he added.
Sa’adu Inuwa Muhammad, the district head of Shagumi, who was on the scene shortly after the accident occurred, stated the boat was carrying “greater than 100 folks”.
“We had been capable of get well 31 corpses from the river. The boat was additionally recovered and eliminated,” he advised Reuters.
Girls and kids made up the vast majority of the deceased, Muhammad stated. He added that 4 victims have already been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.
Boat accidents are frequent in Nigeria’s riverine communities – particularly in the course of the wet season from March to October, when rivers and lakes overflow – because of lax security enforcement, overcrowding and poorly maintained vessels.
In August, greater than 40 folks had been declared lacking after a boat capsized in Nigeria’s northwestern state of Sokoto, additionally because of overloading.