At least 27 people have died in a boat accident in Gbajibo community, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, marking another tragic incident barely seven months after a similar mishap in the same area claimed over 100 lives.
According to reports, the boat was transporting passengers returning from a market in neighbouring Niger State when it capsized late at night. A survivor said the accident was caused by overloading and worsened by strong winds from an approaching storm.
While the exact number of passengers on board was not confirmed, locals believe the boat was carrying more people than it could handle.
The Chairman of Kaiama LGA, Abdullah Danladi, who visited the scene, expressed deep sorrow and vowed that the government would no longer tolerate repeated boat mishaps in the region. He announced plans to set up a committee to enforce life jacket usage, ban night travel, and strengthen water transport safety rules.
The Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Umar, also pledged to increase awareness among boat operators and passengers on the need to comply with safety regulations.
In October 2024, Gbajibo was the site of another major boat disaster where about 60 people — mostly women and children — died after a locally made wooden boat overloaded with around 300 passengers overturned.
Following that incident, President Bola Tinubu directed the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to investigate the rise in boat accidents across the country and develop safety strategies to prevent future tragedies.