A routine trading trip turned tragic on Saturday when a passenger boat capsized in Gunu village, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, leaving at least 25 people feared dead. The boat, carrying traders and their goods, was en route to Kwata, Zumba Market when the accident occurred around 11:45 a.m.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed the incident, saying the exact number of casualties is still unverified as search and rescue efforts continue. Ibrahim Hussaini, NSEMA’s director of information, disclosed that the boat operator and a handful of passengers were rescued, with one survivor currently receiving medical attention at the General Hospital in Kuta.
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“Search and rescue operations are ongoing,” Hussaini said. “Our desk officers are working closely with local divers and volunteers to recover bodies and possibly locate more survivors.”
Though the agency has yet to release an official death toll, early media estimates suggest that over 25 lives were lost in the mishap, including ten members of a single family.
The tragedy has reignited concerns over the safety of inland water transportation in Nigeria, particularly in Niger State, where boat accidents are becoming alarmingly frequent. Disturbingly, none of the passengers on Saturday’s boat were reportedly wearing life jackets.
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The incident comes just days after the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) launched a state-wide campaign, “No Life Jacket, No Boarding,” aimed at improving safety compliance in riverine communities. That message appears to have gone unheeded in this instance.
April also saw a similar tragedy when a boat capsized on the River Niger, killing 37 people. In a sobering statistic released earlier this month, NSEMA revealed that more than 500 lives have been lost to various emergency disasters—many of them water-related—between September 2024 and May 2025.
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Waterways remain a vital mode of transport for many rural and trading communities across Niger State. But recurring accidents, often involving overcrowding, poor regulation, and a lack of basic safety measures, highlight the urgent need for more effective enforcement and public awareness campaigns.
As recovery operations continue in Shiroro, questions are again being asked about what more could—and should—be done to stop this cycle of preventable tragedy.
