The National Emergency Management Agency has confirmed that 30 people lost their lives in the tragic boat accident that occurred in the Gausawa community, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The agency added that 58 passengers were rescued from the incident, while one more body was recovered.
The accident, which happened on September 2, 2025, involved a boat carrying about 90 passengers along a water channel in Gausawa.
The Head of Press Unit at NEMA, Manzo Ezekiel, disclosed this in a press statement on Thursday.
Boat accidents remain a recurring tragedy in Nigeria, especially in communities where water transport is a major means of movement. Many of these mishaps are linked to overloading, poor enforcement of safety regulations, use of rickety vessels, and inadequate life-saving equipment.
In Niger State and other parts of the country, such incidents have claimed hundreds of lives in recent years, highlighting the urgent need for stricter safety standards, improved monitoring of waterways, and community awareness on safe boating practices.
Providing an update on the tragedy, the statement noted that the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has directed the agency’s Minna Operations Office to intensify ongoing search and rescue operations.
“Witnesses at the scene of the incident revealed that about 90 persons were onboard the ill-fated vessel. So far, 58 passengers have been rescued, while over 30 lives have been lost as one additional body was recovered this afternoon. Several other passengers remain unaccounted for, with search and rescue efforts still ongoing.
“Initial investigations indicate that the mishap was caused by overloading of the vessel, compounded by a collision with a tree stump along the water channel.
“The Niger State Emergency Management Agency is leading the rescue operation alongside other stakeholders, including the National Inland Waterways Authority, the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, local divers, and community volunteers,” the agency said.
It added that NEMA is coordinating closely with the stakeholders to ensure a sustained and organized response.
