Death toll rises to 42 in Niger boat tragedy, 150 rescued
Scene of the Niger boat mishap.
Published By: Kazeem Ugbodaga
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The death toll from the tragic boat mishap in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State has climbed to 42, with 150 passengers rescued by local divers and volunteers.
The incident occurred on October 1, when a boat carrying approximately 300 passengers capsized while traveling from Gbajibo community in Mokwa, Niger State, to Gbajibo community in Kaiama, Kwara State.
The passengers were returning from a Maulud celebration when the boat, reportedly overloaded, capsized around 8:30 p.m. on Monday.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed the figures in a statement released on Friday via X (formerly Twitter), detailing the ongoing rescue efforts.
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According to the update, the Search and Rescue (SAR) team from NEMA’s Minna operations office, along with key stakeholders including NSEMA and the Federal Fire Service, visited the scene the boat tragedy for an on-the-spot assessment.
NSEMA said the joint team of local divers and community volunteers had played a critical role in the recovery operation.
“So far, 42 bodies, including 39 males, 2 females, and 1 child, have been recovered and buried according to Islamic rites. Efforts to find more missing passengers are still underway,” the statement said.
The boat tragedy, attributed to overloading, has reignited discussions about water transport safety regulations and the need for strict adherence to capacity limits to avoid further tragedies.
