More than 100 people are missing after a wooden vessel carrying mostly women and children capsized in Niger State, Nigeria. The boat, which had a capacity of 100 passengers, was overloaded with about 300 people when it overturned in the rural Mokwa district. The incident occurred in the Niger River on Tuesday night while the passengers were returning from an Islamic religious festival. Rescue workers and volunteers managed to save 150 people, but the search for more survivors was ongoing.
Authorities initially reported that nine bodies had been recovered from the accident, with two females and seven men among the deceased. However, the Council Chairman of Mokwa local government later stated that approximately 60 bodies had been found, with 10 survivors also rescued. The boat had been en route from Mundi to Gbajibo for the Annual Maulud celebration when the tragedy struck, leaving many questioning the cause of the incident.
Ismaila Umar, who leads an association of boat skippers in Mokwa, expressed doubt about the chances of finding more survivors, given the scale of the disaster. This marks the second major boat accident in Niger State in 18 months, following a previous incident that claimed the lives of over 100 people. Experts attribute these disasters to regulatory failures, often caused by overloading or poorly maintained boats.
Salihu Garba, the director of relief and rehabilitation at the state emergency services, highlighted that the boat was not designed to carry more than 100 passengers, leading to its breakage with almost 300 people aboard. The Nigerian State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) is investigating the cause of the incident, but has yet to determine the exact reasons behind the capsizing. Such tragedies underscore the urgent need for stricter regulations and enforcement to prevent further accidents on Nigeria’s waterways.
The tragic boat accident in Mokwa has once again brought attention to the dangers faced by passengers on overcrowded vessels in Nigeria. Many of the recent disasters on the country’s waterways have been attributed to regulatory failures, inadequate maintenance, and overloading. The incident in Niger State serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with travel by boat, particularly in rural areas where safety measures may be lacking.
As the search and rescue operation continues in Mokwa, the focus remains on finding any remaining survivors and determining the cause of the capsizing. With more than 100 people still missing, the toll of the tragedy is expected to rise, further highlighting the need for improved safety measures and oversight to prevent similar incidents in the future. The community is left grappling with the loss of lives and the devastating impact of the accident, as authorities work to piece together the events that led to this heartbreaking disaster in Niger State.
