Niger State emergency rescue officials reported that an overloaded vessel sank after hitting a submerged tree stump.
Published On 4 Sep 2025
At least 60 people have died and dozens more have been rescued after a boat carrying more than 100 passengers capsized in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State, according to local officials.
The vessel left the town of Tungan Sule in Malale district at approximately 11am local time (10:00 GMT) on Tuesday and was heading towards the town of Dugga on Nigeria’s Kainji reservoir.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) stated on Wednesday that the incident occurred when a vessel collided with a submerged tree stump near the Gausawa community in the Borgu Local Government Area.
“The cause was attributed to overloading and collision with a tree stump,” the agency informed local newspaper, Daily Trust.
NSEMA explained that women and children were on board the vessel, which was heading to Dugga for a “condolence visit”.
Abdullahi Baba Ara, NSEMA’s director general and chair of Borgu Local Government Area, said the number of casualties is still rising as rescue operations continue “for possible recovery of missing persons”.
“The death toll of the boat incident has risen to 60,” he informed the Reuters news agency.
“Ten people have been found in serious condition, and many are still being sought,” he added.
Sa’adu Inuwa Muhammad, the district head of Shagumi, who was at the scene shortly after the accident, stated the boat carried “more than 100 people”.
“We managed to recover 31 corpses from the river. The boat was also recovered and removed,” he told Reuters.
Women and children comprised the majority of the deceased, Muhammad said. He added that four victims have been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.
Boat accidents frequently occur in Nigeria’s riverine communities – especially during the rainy season from March to October when rivers and lakes overflow – due to lax safety enforcement, overcrowding, and poorly maintained vessels.
In August, more than 40 people were declared missing after a boat capsized in Nigeria’s northwestern state of Sokoto, also due to overloading.
The vessel left the town of Tungan Sule in Malale district at approximately 11am local time (10:00 GMT) on Tuesday and was heading towards the town of Dugga on Nigeria’s Kainji reservoir.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) stated on Wednesday that the incident occurred when a vessel collided with a submerged tree stump near the Gausawa community in the Borgu Local Government Area.
“The cause was attributed to overloading and collision with a tree stump,” the agency informed local newspaper, Daily Trust.
NSEMA explained that women and children were on board the vessel, which was heading to Dugga for a “condolence visit”.
Abdullahi Baba Ara, NSEMA’s director general and chair of Borgu Local Government Area, said the number of casualties is still rising as rescue operations continue “for possible recovery of missing persons”.
“The death toll of the boat incident has risen to 60,” he informed the Reuters news agency.
“Ten people have been found in serious condition, and many are still being sought,” he added.
Sa’adu Inuwa Muhammad, the district head of Shagumi, who was at the scene shortly after the accident, stated the boat carried “more than 100 people”.
“We managed to recover 31 corpses from the river. The boat was also recovered and removed,” he told Reuters.
Women and children comprised the majority of the deceased, Muhammad said. He added that four victims have been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.
Boat accidents frequently occur in Nigeria’s riverine communities – especially during the rainy season from March to October when rivers and lakes overflow – due to lax safety enforcement, overcrowding, and poorly maintained vessels.
In August, more than 40 people were declared missing after a boat capsized in Nigeria’s northwestern state of Sokoto, also due to overloading.
