A tragic boat mishap has thrown the people of Gausawa community in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State into mourning after a vessel carrying about 90 passengers capsized on September 2.
According to eyewitness accounts, the ill-fated boat collided with a submerged tree stump along the water channel. The situation was made worse by overloading, as the vessel carried more passengers than it could safely handle.
Confirming the incident, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, directed the agency’s Minna Operations Office to intensify rescue efforts. “This is a deeply painful incident, and everything is being done to ensure that survivors are cared for and that missing persons are found,” she said in a statement.
So far, 58 passengers have been rescued. Sadly, over 30 lives have been lost, with one additional body recovered on Thursday afternoon. Several more passengers remain unaccounted for, as search and rescue efforts continue.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) is leading the rescue operations in collaboration with other stakeholders, including the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), local divers, and community volunteers.
NEMA assured the public that it is coordinating closely with these agencies to ensure a sustained and organised response. Updates, the agency said, will be provided as more details emerge.
For the grieving people of Gausawa, the tragedy has left deep scars, as families await news of their missing loved ones while others mourn the loss of relatives already confirmed dead.
Grief in Borgu: Over 30 Feared Dead in Niger State Boat Mishap
