A tragic boat mishap in Niger State has claimed the lives of no fewer than 25 people, including 10 members of a single family, in what locals described as one of the worst incidents in recent years.
The fatal accident occurred on Saturday afternoon around 2pm along the Guni-Zumba waterway, between Munya and Shiroro Local Government Areas.
The victims, mostly traders, were said to be en route to the weekly Zumba market when their overloaded boat struck a submerged tree trunk and capsized.
Confirming the incident, the traditional ruler of Zumba, Sarkin Ruwa Umar Isah, said the casualty figure could rise as many passengers remained missing.
He disclosed that one family lost 10 members, while another reported five relatives yet unaccounted for.
“The boat was carrying dozens of passengers from Guni to Zumba market when it hit a log and overturned. The boat operator himself could not state the exact number of people on board,” Isah said.
Emergency response officials said rescue operations were ongoing.
The Director of Information and Special Duties at the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Dr. Ibrahim Audu Hussaini, confirmed the development, adding that full details were still being compiled.
“Search and rescue teams have been deployed, but due to the nature of the terrain and lack of manifest, determining the accurate number of casualties has been difficult,” he explained.
Boat mishaps have become a recurring tragedy in Niger State, often attributed to overloading, poor safety regulations, and lack of life jackets.
This latest disaster has once again raised concerns about the safety of water transportation, especially in riverine communities.
Local residents have called on the state and federal governments to urgently intervene with stricter regulations and better safety infrastructure to avert future incidents.
As at the time of filing this report, community volunteers and emergency officials were still recovering bodies and searching for survivors.
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