A tragic maritime accident occurred on October 1, 2024, in the Niger River, northern Nigeria, where a wooden boat carrying nearly 300 passengers sank. Officials reported that more than 100 individuals, primarily women and children, are currently missing, while 150 people have been rescued and 11 bodies recovered.
The boat was overloaded, as it was designed to carry only 100 passengers, leading to its capsizing during the return from a religious festival. Salihu Garba, director of relief and rehabilitation at the state emergency services, stated, 'The boat was not supposed to carry more than 100 persons, but there were almost 300 people on it. And that was what resulted in the breakage of the boat.'
Emergency workers and volunteers launched a search operation, which is still ongoing, with Abdullahi Baba Arah, head of Niger State Emergency Management Agency, confirming efforts to locate more survivors. This incident marks the fourth fatal boat accident in northern Nigeria since mid-2023, highlighting ongoing issues with overcrowding and inadequate transportation infrastructure in the region.