- A boat carrying over 100 passengers capsized on the Malale River in Nigeria’s Niger State, killing at least 60 people.
- The vessel struck a submerged tree stump near Gausawa community and overturned. Most of the victims were women and children.
- Emergency teams have recovered dozens of bodies and rescued more than 50 survivors, with search operations still ongoing.
- The tragedy has reignited concerns over safety enforcement and overloading on Nigeria’s waterways.
A deadly boat accident in Nigeria’s northern Niger State has claimed the lives of at least 60 people, following the capsizing of an overloaded vessel on the Malale River. The boat, which had departed from Tungan Sule, was en route to Dugga for a condolence visit when it struck a submerged tree stump near the Gausawa community and overturned.
The vessel was carrying more than 100 passengers, including women and children. Emergency responders and local divers have recovered dozens of bodies, with more than 50 survivors rescued. Several passengers remain unaccounted for, and search operations are still underway.
The tragedy unfolded around mid-morning on Tuesday and has plunged the Borgu Local Government Area into mourning. Local officials confirmed that many of the victims were buried shortly after recovery, in accordance with Islamic rites.
This incident adds to a growing list of fatal boat accidents in Nigeria, where poor regulation, overloading, and inadequate safety measures continue to plague riverine transport. Just weeks earlier, another boat mishap in Sokoto State left 25 people missing. In December 2024, more than 50 bodies were recovered from the River Niger after a similar disaster.
As families grieve, the latest tragedy has sparked renewed calls for stricter enforcement of safety protocols and better oversight of passenger vessels operating across Nigeria’s waterways.
