Tragedy struck in Niger State as the death toll from a devastating boat accident rose to 36, following the recovery of 20 more bodies by local divers and emergency officials.
The boat capsized on Tuesday night while carrying passengers celebrating Mawlid, a significant Islamic holiday commemorating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
Local divers, alongside officials from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), conducted search and rescue operations in the Gbajibo area of Mokwa Local Government Area.
According to reports, the boat had approximately 300 celebrants on board when it capsized around 8 PM. It had just departed from the Mundi community, which is close to its intended destination.
The Director General of NSEMA, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah, confirmed that the tragic event resulted in the deaths of 36 individuals. He revealed that 16 bodies were recovered on Wednesday, consisting of two females and 14 males. These bodies were buried at the Gbajibo community graveyard.
On Thursday, local divers recovered an additional 20 bodies, leading to the grim total of 36 fatalities. Arah stated that search and rescue operations would continue in collaboration with local divers to find the remaining victims.
“The recovery operations are ongoing, and we are doing everything we can to find and identify all the victims of this tragic incident,” Arah said.
The tragedy has left the Gbajibo community in shock and grief. Many victims were from the community, located in Kwara State, several hours away from Kaiama, where the boat accident occurred.
Hon. Mahmud Salihu Gbajibo, a community leader, expressed his deep sorrow. He lost seven family members in the accident, including two married nieces, three nephews, and two younger brothers.
“This incident is emotionally devastating for our community. We had gathered for a naming ceremony, and now we are burying our loved ones,” he said. “Our women were running naked in despair, and the entire community is in mourning. No shops are open, and there is no food to buy. It’s terrible.”
Gbajibo emphasised the need for better transportation options in the area. “Many victims would not have taken the boat if we had motorcycles. There are roads leading to the community, and we plead for assistance in providing motorcycles.”
Another community member, Haron Yohana, also recounted his loss. He lost five family members, including three nieces and a brother. “I bid them a safe trip, but I never knew it would be the last time I saw them,” Yohana lamented.
Yohana highlighted safety concerns regarding the boats in the area. “The wooden boat was old and likely overloaded. There is a need for modern boats and life jackets to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The concerns raised by the community reflect a broader issue regarding the safety of boat transportation in Nigeria. Many boats used for passenger transport are old and often do not comply with safety regulations.
In response to the tragedy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and the Niger State government. He called for an investigation into the increasing frequency of boat accidents across the country.
In a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the president directed the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to assess the situation and implement measures to enhance safety.
“NIWA must expand its surveillance of inland waters to ensure the safety of our people. Boat operators violating the ban on night sailing must be prosecuted,” Tinubu ordered.
The president also thanked the emergency workers and local divers for their efforts in the search and recovery operations. “We must ensure that such tragedies do not happen again,” he added.
