At Least 22 Passengers Drown After Boat Capsizes In Niger State; 6 Bodies Recovered

At least 22 people drowned after a boat capsized in the Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State on Monday. The search and rescue team recovered six bodies on Tuesday.

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) said the victims were traveling to Yauri in Kebbi State from Kasabu village on Monday morning when the tragic boat accident took place due to heavy rainfall and wind.

Hussaine Ibrahim, spokesperson for NSEMA, disclosed that most of the people traveling on the boat were not wearing lifejackets.

"We received a report from our desk officers in Agwara of the boat incident that occurred on Monday between 11 a.m. and 12 a.m.," he said on Tuesday, as per Punch. "Since morning, there has been serious rain there and it has made it difficult for the search and rescue team to achieve much results."

"They have been in the water since morning; the rain has been making things difficult. Our man on the ground said they recovered more bodies today. They have been on the water since morning but the rain disrupted the operation," he added.

Ibrahim went on to share that four bodies were recovered in the morning while two were found in the evening.

The victims are all from Niger State, except for one who is reportedly from Zuru in Kebbi State.

Abubakar Yelwa, managing director of the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), said it was an "unfortunate" incident, adding that the commission was already working toward educating people about maritime safety.

"The commission in its efforts to strengthen safety measures has in addition to the provision of life jackets, engaged in sensitization campaigns on maritime safety," he said, according to The Cable.

"N-HYPPADEC management sympathizes with Yauri Emirate Council and Kebbi State Government over the tragic incident and prays for the repose of the souls of the deceased," Yelwa continued.

Boat accidents are common in Nigeria. More than 900 people reportedly died in boat accidents in the country between January 2020 and September 2023.

Last year, a boat carrying 85 passengers capsized, leading to the death of 76 people in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State. In May, 15 children drowned and 25 people went missing after a boat capsized in a river in Sokoto State.

Another incident took place in the Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State last month and grabbed the attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who expressed "heartfelt condolences" to the families of the victims.