At least 29 people have been confirmed dead following a boat mishap in Gausawa, Malale Ward, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, on Tuesday.
The boat, which was carrying about 90 passengers, reportedly capsized after hitting a tree stump. Local divers and residents launched immediate rescue efforts, saving 50 people and recovering 29 bodies. Two others are still unaccounted for.
Confirming the incident, the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah, said the vessel departed Tungan Sule in Shagunun Ward and was en route to Dugga village when it capsized at around 11:30 a.m.
“The cause was attributed to overloading and collision with a tree stump. Search and rescue operations are ongoing for possible recovery of the missing persons,” Arah stated.
Tuesday’s tragedy comes barely five weeks after a similar mishap on July 27, when a boat conveying 39 passengers from Guni to the weekly Zumba market on River Kaduna capsized, leaving 13 dead and 26 rescued.
Rescue officials and local divers are continuing efforts to recover the remaining missing passengers.
