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Out of the blue, the serene waters that once symbolised hope and opportunity became harrowing pathways of grief and despair in the northern part of the country. For years, the region has been rocked by what could better be described as an epidemic of boat accidents that have claimed countless lives, turning joyous journeys into tragic tales of loss.
Today, families that once gathered by the water’s edge, sharing stories and dreams, now mourn loved ones swallowed by the unforgiving currents.
One of the grieving individuals is Hafsat Mohammed (not her real name), whose voice trembled as she recounts the day her life changed forever.
Quivering, she recounted, “It was October 3, 2024. My husband, our three children, and I were travelling to celebrate Maulud Nabiyy with our families in the Gbajigbo community, Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State. We boarded a boat at Gearbox village in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. Little did we know it would be our last journey together.”
The boat capsized on the Mundi River, claiming over 200 lives, including Hafsat’s entire family. “I was the only survivor from my family,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “The pain is unbearable. I’m left with nothing but memories.”
Her story is not an isolated one as the Northern part of the country has witnessed quite an alarming surge in boat accidents, leaving a trail of deaths and destruction in its wake that has devastated communities.
But amid this cycle of perpetual mourning, one question that many continue to ask is: what could be responsible for these tragic occurrences?
These combined factors, they insist, create perilous conditions on the waterways, putting both passengers and operators at severe risk.
Maritime experts have linked the frequent boat accidents to several factors, including inadequate boat maintenance and poor design, overloading, lack of essential safety equipment and emergency response plans, insufficient training for boat operators, and a lack of strict regulatory enforcement.
These combined factors, they insist, create perilous conditions on the waterways, putting both passengers and operators at severe risk.
According to records, over 300 lives have been lost in boat accidents in the region in September 2024 alone.
This staggering figure has raised concerns among residents, policymakers, and stakeholders, highlighting the need for improved safety measures and emergency response strategies.
State-by-state breakdown
In October 2024 alone, Kwara State witnessed the loss of 200 lives in Gearbox village, Kaiama Local Government Area.
In Borno State, 18 lives were lost over the course of six years in multiple incidents.
Yobe State saw the loss of 11 lives in Jumban village, in the Tarmuwa LGA, in 2022, while, Bauchi State reported multiple fatalities in Gamawa LGA in August 2024.
The tragedy continues in Adamawa State, where 49 lives were lost to boat accidents in 2023. 20 lives were lost in Nasarawa State in three separate incidents between August 2023 and September 2024.
Sokoto State, on its part, has recorded 92 fatalities in five incidents that took place between 2020 and 2024.
Aside from these, Punch’s investigation further revealed a disturbing pattern of boat mishaps across the Northern region.
Some of the most notable incidents include the January 8, 2024 boat mishap in Lokoja, where seven lives were lost; the October 6, 2024, accident, which claimed 21 lives; October 3, 2014, tragedy on the River Niger in Anambra State, where 28 were killed; the October 1, 2024, accident in Mokwa, that led to 44 deaths; and the October 7, 2022, incident in Ganaja village, where one life was lost.
Other incidents on the River Benue axis include the October 30, 2023, tragedy, where scores were feared dead in a boat mishap close to Taraba State.
On August 22, 2024, four people lost their lives in a boat accident in Taraba and before this, on November 13, 2023, eight lives were feared lost in another Taraba boat accident.
In Benue State, on September 22, 2022, an incident claimed 14 lives near Fada village in Guma LGA, while on October 26, 2018, 18 people drowned on the river.
Additionally, on July 6, 2022, 21 members of ECAN Church from Ijaha in Makurdi LGA drowned on the River Benue at Guma.
Since 2019, Taraba State has experienced the loss of over 200 lives to boat accidents. Saturday PUNCH’s investigation uncovered a consistent pattern of fatal mishaps on state rivers, with many of the incidents attributed to overloading, poor weather conditions, and a lack of adequate safety measures.
On August 21, 2024, a boat incident killed four women out of 30 passengers on River Benue, near Mayo Renewo.
Back in November 12, 2023, a boat carrying fishermen capsized in Wukari LGA, claiming the lives of at least 20 passengers. Days before that, on October 30, 2023, a boat carrying about 120 passengers sank in River Benue, killing about 70 passengers due to overloading and disregard for safety measures.
In the same October, a boat with over 100 passengers capsized along River Benue in the Ibi Local Government Area, killing many.
According to safety experts, these devastating incidents underscore the urgent need for improved safety measures to protect lives on Taraba’s waterways.
Meanwhile, in what appears to be a departure from the grim pattern, Gombe State, which had also had its share of mishaps, revealed that it had recorded zero boat mishaps in recent times.
The Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Haruna, confirmed in a telephone interview with our correspondent.
“We have not had boat crashes. In places like Dadinkowa and Kupto, where boats are commonly used, we have never reported any accidents,” he stated.
Haruna attributed the zero boat mishaps to the state government’s proactive approach to emergency management and safety measures.
“We have been working closely with stakeholders, including boat operators and local communities, to ensure that safety protocols are adhered to,” he added.
His claim was corroborated by the Public Relations Officer of the Gombe Police Command, Buhari Abdullahi.
He explained that the Divisional Police Officers in areas with waterways confirmed that there have been no reported boat mishaps in recent times.
However, a different tale of despair entirely emanates from Kwara State, where tragedy struck on October 3, 2024, when a boat mishap claimed the lives of at least 200 people from Gbajigbo village in Kaiama Local Government Area.
It was the tragedy that claimed the lives of Hafsat’s loved ones, who were among those travelling to celebrate Maulud Nabiyy with their families in the Gbajigbo community in Niger State.
According to eyewitnesses, the boat capsized around the Mundi River, resulting in one of the deadliest boat accidents in Nigeria’s recent history.
The devastating incident occurred barely a year after a similar one took place at Egbu village in Patigi LGA on June 12, 2023, claiming over 100 lives.
“It’s a dark day for our community,” Ismail Ibrahim, a community leader in Gbajigbo, said, adding, “We’ve lost many loved ones, and it’s heartbreaking to see families torn apart. We urge the government to provide us with safer means of transportation.”
Reacting to the accident, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State described the incident as “shocking and saddening.”
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, he said, “The incident occurred in Gearbox village in Niger State, a neighbouring community where the boat was headed for a Maulid Nabiyy celebration.”
The Governor announced the donation of N100m support package for the victims’ families and directed the state emergency management agency to provide humanitarian aid to the survivors and their families.
The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, led a delegation to condole with the people of Gbajigbo village.
During the visit, he announced a cash donation of N2m cash to offset medical bills and support the families of the deceased.
He said, “We are here to commiserate with the people of Gbajigbo and assure them of our support. We will work with the state government to ensure that necessary measures are taken to prevent such incidents in the future.”
The Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Omar Muazu, however, described the incident as an “act of God,” but emphasized the importance of obeying safety rules.
“While we cannot question God’s will, we must take responsibility for our actions. We urge our people to always wear life jackets and avoid overloading and night journeys,” he advised.
Not left out of the disturbing trend of boat mishaps is Borno State, which recorded 18 deaths within six years.
The incidents, which occurred in different local government areas, raised concerns about the safety of water transportation in the state.
According to reports, three boat mishaps occurred in Borno State between 2018 and 2024 and were attributed to excessive flooding and thunderstorms.
The first incident took place in September 2018, when a boat capsized in the Zabarmari area of Jere LGA, claiming the lives of six people.
The ward head of Zabarmari at the time, Bulama Maidamma, described the incident as unfortunate. “The boat capsized due to heavy wind and a sandstorm that lasted about 30 minutes,” he said.
“Most of the passengers drowned because they could not swim and were not wearing life jackets.”
In August 2021, another boat mishap occurred in the Shani LGA, resulting in the deaths of eight people out of 21 passengers on board.
A member of the Borno State House of Assembly representing Shani Constituency, Ibrahim Musa, while confirming the incident, said, “We lost eight precious lives in that incident. It was a tragic event that shook our community. We urge boat operators to prioritise safety and adhere to regulations.”
Meanwhile, the most recent tragedy occurred on September 23, 2024, when a boat capsized in the Dikwa Local Government Area, claiming the lives of four passengers, including a 10-year-old girl, a 6-year-old boy, and a 5-month-old baby.
The Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, said the accident occurred at about 3:30 pm in Bakassi community, between Mafa and Dikwa along Maiduguri Road.
While urging the public to be cautious when using water transportation, the state government vowed to take concrete steps to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Similarly, in Sokoto State, where the disturbing trend of boat mishaps has continued unabated, no fewer than 92 lives were lost in five separate incidents between 2020 and 2024.
According to findings by Saturday Punch, these incidents occurred across Goronyo, Shagari, and Wamakko local government areas.
For instance, in 2020, nine people lost their lives in a boat accident in Goronyo Local Government Area.
In 2021, 13 people died in another incident in the Ginga community, Shagari LGA, while another mishap considered the worst occurred in 2022, when 30 people drowned in the Gidan Magana community, within the same local government.
In 2023, 16 people also lost their lives in another boat accident in Shagari LGA, while another 24 died in Dundaye, Wamakko LGA in August 2024.
In Nasarawa State, boat mishaps claimed no fewer than 20 lives in three separate incidents between August 2023 and September 2024.
The first incident occurred on August 24, 2023, at the Kogi Kungra Kamfani River in Arikiya, Lafia LGA, claiming 12 lives, while seven survivors were rescued by local divers.
In November, four people lost their lives in a boat mishap in Awe LGA. The victims—Alkali Congo, Shedrack Dauda, Mashack Dauda, and Akolo Moses—were rice farmers from Ubbe District in Nasarawa Eggon LGA.
The most recent incident occurred on September 6, 2024, on River Alogani in the Lafia LGA, resulting in the loss of four lives, while two persons went missing.
The boat was carrying 25 passengers, eight motorcycles, and four bags of melon, capsized while heading to Ashangwa community.
In Yola, Adamawa State, 49 people lost their lives in 2023 in a boat accident.
According to the Adamawa State District chairman of the Maritime Workers Union, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, in an interview with our correspondent, the tragedy was caused by a lack of adherence to safety guidelines by boat owners.
He said, “Last year, we recorded 49 deaths from boat accidents in Adamawa State. The worst incident occurred in Njuwa Lake across Rugange village in Yola South Local Government, where 22 people died. Other incidents occurred in Gurin, Maine, Borinje, and Njuwa Lake, all in September 2023.”
Abdullahi emphasized that accidents only happen in areas where the maritime union was not allowed to establish offices to monitor operations.
“There is no single accident here in the Jimeta branch, even with the highest number of boats in operation. This is because the union insists that all safety measures must be in place,” he added.
He appealed to the state government to donate life jackets and boats to the union for rescue operations.
“The life jackets will be distributed free to boat owners who register with the union, and we will allocate the boats to all units for rescue operations whenever there is an accident,” he assured.
Like in other states, Bauchi recorded a recent tragic boat accident on August 31, 2024, on the Zindiwa River in Zindiwa village, Gamawa LGA, resulting in multiple casualties.
In an earlier incident in September 2022, a boat capsized in Jama’are town, Jama’are LGA, due to heavy rainfall and a windstorm, causing unspecified casualties.
Another tragic accident in May 2020 involved an overcrowded canoe in Gwaskaram village, Bauchi Local Government Area, which also led to the loss of several lives.
According to Saturday PUNCH findings, a devastating boat accident occurred in Jumban village, Tarmuwa LGA, Yobe State, in 2022, claiming 11 lives.
The Director of Search and Rescue at the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Baba Jalo, confirmed the tragic event, stating, “11 people tragically lost their lives in the boat mishap.” The accident took place near the Jumban-Dapchi area when the Kumadugu River overflowed its banks.
Among the listed states, Niger State is considered the hardest hit, suffering numerous devastating boat accidents over the past two years, which have claimed hundreds of lives. Official records indicate that the state has experienced at least 19 boat mishaps across several of its local government areas, including Mokwa, Katcha, Kontagora, Lavun, Edati, Lapai-Agaie, Mashegu, Magama, Borgu, Shiroro, Agwara, Gurara, Gbako, Munya, Rajau, Bida, Suleja, and Bosso.
One of the most tragic incidents occurred in October 2023, when a boat carrying over 300 passengers capsized in the Gbajibo River, Mokwa LGA. Only 10 survivors were reported, and at least 60 bodies recovered.
The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, at the time, attributed the accidents to multiple factors, including overloading, use of old and dilapidated wooden boats, torrential rainfall, submerged tree stumps, and non-adherence to safety regulations.
“The lack of life jackets has also significantly contributed to the fatalities. We urge boat operators and passengers to prioritise safety above all else,” he stated.
Baba-Arah told Saturday PUNCH that similar accidents claimed 182 lives in 2022, with 95 fatalities and 19 in 2024.
Governor Mohammed Bago, while commemorating the 2024 World Maritime Day in Minna, described the situation as “unacceptable” and vowed to enforce stricter regulations to prevent further tragedies.
“We cannot continue to lose precious lives on our waterways. We will work with relevant agencies to ensure that boat operators adhere to safety standards and regulations,” he promised.
To mitigate these tragedies, the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, distributed 33 fibreglass boats to Niger State.
The gesture was commended by the Chairman of the Niger State Boat Operators Association, Attahiru Isah.
However, he called for more to be done, adding, “We need rescue marshals to ensure prompt responses to accidents when they occur. We also require more life jackets and safety equipment.”
Concerned over the high number of fatalities recorded in boat accidents in the region, the Northern States Governors’ Forum promised to work with the Federal Government and relevant agencies to enhance boat safety and regulation.
