13 dead, 26 rescued in Niger boat mishap
By: Zagazola Makama
At least 13 people, including women and children, have been confirmed dead while 26 others were rescued following a boat mishap that occurred on Saturday morning in the Kwata area en route to Zumba market in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
Zagazola Makama report that the tragic incident occurred at about 11:45 a.m., when a local passenger boat conveying 39 persons and goods capsized midway into the journey.
Rescue efforts commenced immediately, and by Sunday night, search parties recovered and buried the bodies of the deceased in accordance with local customs.
The Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for Niger and Kwara offices, who led a delegation to the accident scene, confirmed that the boat driver and several survivors are currently receiving medical attention at the Kuta General Hospital.
He expressed deep concern over the recurring disregard for safety protocols by waterway users despite recent interventions.
“This unfortunate incident happened just days after NIWA distributed life jackets to communities along this route. Sadly, most passengers were not wearing them at the time of the mishap,” he said.
NIWA reiterated its commitment to sensitising riverine communities on the importance of life jacket usage, routine maintenance of boats, and compliance with weather advisories to prevent further tragedies.
Saturday’s incident is the latest in a string of fatal boat accidents along the Niger River, raising fresh concerns over maritime safety and enforcement of regulations.
