A deadly boating incident happened in north-central Nigeria on the afternoon of January 15, 2024. A vessel ferrying individuals from the Borgu district in Niger state to a market in Kebbi state, located across the border, tipped over in the Niger River.

According to reports, the incident claimed eight lives, and approximately 100 individuals were reported missing.

Ibrahim Audu, an official spokesperson for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, verified that the vessel was carrying many more individuals than its limit, which directly contributed to the accident.

The boat was loaded beyond its maximum capacity of 100 passengers, with an excessive number of individuals and bags of grain. The combination of severe overloading and strong winds caused the boat to lose stability and ultimately capsize.

The rescue and recovery efforts are community-led, with local villagers, divers, and emergency officials working together in a race against time to locate the missing passengers. However, despite their united efforts, the outcome for many is still unknown, and the total number of survivors is yet to be confirmed.

This tragedy is indicative of a growing trend of boating accidents in Nigeria. Such incidents are becoming increasingly frequent, particularly in isolated regions where local communities depend on waterways for transporting goods to markets.

Due to the lack of well-maintained roads and other viable transportation options, many are forced to rely on hard-to-navigate, overcrowded, and often poorly-maintained boats for their travel.

Even though there have been multiple similar accidents in the past, a comprehensive record of fatalities is non-existent. Available reports suggest that there have been at least five major incidents involving 100 or more passengers in the last seven months alone.