In a tragic incident, more than 150 passengers are feared dead after a boat carrying over 300 people capsized in Niger State, Nigeria. The ill-fated vessel, overcrowded with mostly women and children, was en route to the Gbajibo community from Mundi for a Maulud celebration when it sank in the turbulent waters of the River Niger on the evening of October 1, 2024.
Eyewitnesses reported that the boat, severely overloaded, struggled to remain afloat before it overturned. The passengers were participating in a religious journey to celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad, a tradition widely observed in many Muslim communities.
The incident occurred near the Gbajibo community, upstream of the Jebba Dam, and has plunged the local area into mourning. Rescue operations were launched immediately, with the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) coordinating the efforts alongside the State Ministry of Transport, the Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, local divers, and volunteers from the community. Despite their swift response, hopes of finding more survivors are fading as time passes.
Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, Director General of NSEMA, confirmed the accident, stating: “NSEMA received a report of a boat accident that occurred on the night of October 1, 2024, around 8:30 pm along River Niger, upstream of Jebba Dam, at Gbajibo Community in Mokwa LGA.”
Rescue teams continue their efforts to recover bodies and search for possible survivors, although the strong currents of the river have complicated operations. The tragedy highlights the recurring issue of overloaded boats in Nigeria’s waterways, a problem that has claimed hundreds of lives over the years due to lax safety regulations and poor enforcement.
As families await news of their loved ones, this latest disaster serves as a painful reminder of the urgent need for stricter safety protocols to prevent such avoidable losses in the future.
