At least 16 people were buried yesterday in Gbajibo Community, Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, following a tragic boat accident that claimed multiple lives. The boat, carrying around 300 passengers, capsized just short of its destination, with most victims being Fulani men and women from Mundi Community who were traveling to a Maulud celebration in Gbajibo.
According to local sources, the mishap threw the entire community into mourning, leading to the cancellation of the religious event. Witnesses described the incident as mysterious, noting that the boat, which was reportedly not filled to capacity, inexplicably broke into two from the center while in motion. Authorities, however, suspect overloading to be the primary cause.
Mudasir Abdulmumin, a local affected by the tragedy, revealed that seven members of his family were on board. While four of his sisters survived, three relatives, including a five-year-old boy, lost their lives.
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Tragedy Strikes as Over 150 Missing After Boat Capsizes in Niger State
"Nothing came in contact with the boat. It just broke into two from the middle. We lost three family members: Hasiya Usman, Adama Usman, and little Mubsin," Abdulmumin shared.
Alhaji Musa Kimbokun, Vice Chairman of Mokwa LGA, said the situation was worsened when a rescue boat inadvertently pushed victims further into the river due to poor visibility. He confirmed that 16 people had been buried and that many more were still missing, with rescue operations ongoing.
“This happened at the same point as last year’s incident, but while that was caused by tree logs, this time, the boat simply broke apart. It’s likely due to overloading," Kimbokun added.
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The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed that 16 bodies had been recovered so far, including two women and 14 men. NSEMA Director General, Abdullahi Baba Arah, reported that over 150 people had been rescued alive, and efforts to locate more survivors were still underway.
This disaster echoes a similar tragedy in 2023, where a boat mishap in the same community claimed 30 lives. Recent statistics from the Niger State government show that boat accidents have taken 182 lives in the past three years, with 95 deaths recorded in 2022, 68 in 2023, and 19 in 2024.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, represented by his deputy Yakubu Garba, has called for stricter enforcement of water transport laws to safeguard lives and property. The governor made the appeal during the 2024 World Maritime Day celebration, where 33 fiberglass boats were distributed to the state by the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC).
