A crowded ferry boat has capsized in Niger State, Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of at least 32 people, rescue officials confirmed on Thursday. The incident marks yet another tragic addition to the country’s long list of fatal river accidents.
Details of the Incident
- Date of accident: Tuesday morning
- Location: Malale River, North Central Nigeria, near Gausawa village
- Passengers on board: Almost 100 men, women, and children
- Cause: Overloading and collision with a submerged tree stump
Abubakar Idris, a representative of the Red Cross, confirmed the accident to AFP. The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) stated: “The cause was attributed to overloading and collision with a tree stump.”
Updated Casualty Figures
| Status of Passengers | Number of People |
| Confirmed dead | 32 |
| Missing | 8 |
| Survivors rescued | 50 |
Following extended search and rescue efforts, SEMA’s Abdullahi Baba Arah reported: “After a thorough search and rescue operation, our men at Borgu have discovered three more bodies. Eight are still missing and 50 survivors have been rescued.”
Operations to locate the remaining missing passengers are still ongoing.
Rescue officials stated that the passengers were travelling by river to the village of Dugga, located around 15–20 kilometres (9–12 miles) away. They were en route to pay their respects following the death of a villager a few days earlier.
Tragically, the vessel struck a submerged tree stump during the journey, causing it to overturn near Gausawa.
Fatal boat accidents are common on Nigeria’s busy rivers, frequently attributed to:
- Overloaded vessels
- Poor boat maintenance
- Lack of compliance with safety regulations
Recent examples include:
| Date | Location | Casualties | Cause / Notes |
| Late August 2024 | Sokoto State | 3 dead, 25 missing | Overturned boat carrying 50 passengers |
| July 2024 | Jigawa State | 6 girls drowned | Returning from farm work; travelling in darkness with high water and strong winds; no life jackets provided |
Authorities highlighted that many tragedies are worsened by non-compliance with safety measures, particularly:
- Lack of life jackets
- Poor navigation during dangerous conditions (e.g., darkness, strong winds, high water levels)
The repeated incidents underline the urgent need for stricter enforcement of maritime safety regulations and improved monitoring of passenger boats across the country.
