A devastating boat accident has claimed the lives of 27 passengers along the Malale–Kainji Lake route in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The tragedy occurred on Tuesday morning at Gausawa, leaving families and communities in shock.
Eyewitnesses reported that the mishap took place at about 11:49 a.m., when a wooden boat transporting 138 people capsized along the Shagunu–Dunga axis of Kainji Lake. The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) rescue team did not arrive at the scene until 1:33 p.m., by which time several lives had already been lost.
Rescue operations confirmed that 46 men, 58 women, and an unspecified number of children were saved with the aid of life jackets. Sadly, recovery efforts revealed that 27 people did not survive the incident; eight bodies were pulled out on Monday, while another 19 were recovered on Tuesday.
“The wooden boat sank but has since been removed, while rescue efforts are still ongoing,” explained Akapo Adeboye, the Manager of NIWA Niger-Kwara Area Office.
According to NIWA officials, the operation was coordinated by the New Bussa Substation Office, with additional support from NIWA River Marshalls, the Nigerian Shipowners Forum on Waterways (NIGSBOFWA), security agencies, and local community leaders. Adeboye emphasized that the synergy among these stakeholders has been vital in reinforcing passenger safety and preventing further tragedies.
In the aftermath of the disaster, community leaders and boat operators in Borgu pledged their commitment to partner with NIWA in sustaining water safety campaigns, particularly in riverine areas where boat travel remains a daily necessity.
Growing Wave of Boat Mishaps
The Gausawa tragedy is the latest in a disturbing string of boat accidents across Nigeria. On August 17, a boat ferrying more than 50 passengers to a market in Sokoto capsized, leaving over 40 people missing. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) later confirmed that only 10 people were rescued, while search efforts continued for the others.
Earlier in August 2024, at least 16 farmers drowned when a wooden canoe capsized while transporting them across a river to their rice fields in Sokoto State. The same month, six schoolgirls lost their lives when their boat overturned while returning from farm work in Jigawa State.
Just two days before that incident, 13 people perished in another boat disaster in central Niger State, highlighting the recurring nature of such tragedies across the country.
What You Should Know
Boat accidents have become alarmingly frequent in Nigeria, particularly in riverine communities where water transport is common.
Despite the use of life jackets and support from rescue agencies, poor infrastructure, overcrowding, and unsafe wooden boats continue to endanger lives.
The Kainji Lake tragedy, with 27 confirmed deaths, is a stark reminder of the urgent need for stronger waterway safety enforcement and community awareness.
