A boating disaster occurred in the north-central region of Nigeria on the afternoon of Monday, January 15, 2024. The vessel, ferrying individuals from Borgu district in Niger state to a market in Kebbi state across the border, capsized in the Niger River.
The catastrophe resulted in eight fatalities with approximately 100 individuals unaccounted for.
Ibrahim Audu, a representative for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, identified overcapacity as a significant factor leading to the incident.
The vessel, designed to accommodate a maximum of 100 passengers, was significantly overfilled, including bags of grain among the passengers.
The extreme overloading coupled with powerful winds destabilized the boat, causing it to capsize.
The effort to rescue and recover victims has been primarily led by the community. Local villagers have joined forces with divers and emergency officials in the urgent search for the missing passengers. Despite these efforts, the fate of many is still uncertain, and the count of survivors remains unknown.
This tragedy is the latest in a series of boat accidents in Nigeria. Such incidents are increasingly frequent, particularly in remote areas where waterways are the principal means of transporting goods to markets.
The absence of well-kept roads and feasible transport alternatives leaves many reliant on overcrowded and often inadequately maintained boats for their livelihood.
While there have been numerous similar incidents in the past, no comprehensive record of the death toll exists. Reports suggest that there have been at least five major incidents involving 100 or more passengers in the past seven months alone.
These accidents are commonly linked to overloading, poor boat conditions, and navigational challenges on the water.