A boating incident took place on the afternoon of January 15, 2024, in north-central Nigeria. A boat ferrying individuals from the Borgu district in Niger state to a marketplace in neighboring Kebbi state capsized in the Niger River.
The incident resulted in the death of eight people, with an estimated 100 passengers missing.
Ibrahim Audu, a representative for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, stated that the boat’s overcapacity was a major contributing factor to the disaster.
The vessel, designed to accommodate a maximum of 100 passengers, was carrying an excessive number of people and bags of grain.
Strong winds coupled with the severe overloading caused the boat to lose stability, leading to its overturning.
The rescue and recovery operations have been primarily driven by the local community, with villagers partnering with divers and emergency personnel in a fervent search for the missing passengers. However, the number of survivors and their conditions remain unknown.
This catastrophe is the latest in a series of boat accidents in Nigeria, particularly in remote areas where locals depend on waterways to transport goods to markets.
The absence of well-maintained roads and reliable transportation alternatives leaves residents reliant on overcrowded and often substandard boats for their livelihood.
Despite numerous similar incidents, there is no comprehensive tally of fatalities. Reports suggest that there have been at least five major incidents involving 100 or more passengers in the past seven months.
These accidents are commonly linked to overloading, subpar boat conditions, and navigational difficulties on the water.
