Thirteen people have been confirmed dead while 26 others were rescued after a boat carrying 39 passengers capsized in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The boat, which was en route to the Kwata Zumba Market, overturned near Guni village around 11:45 a.m. on Saturday. Officials from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) said the accident occurred due to water turbulence and suspected overloading.

Confirming the incident on Sunday, NSEMA’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, Malik Baba Suleiman, said search and rescue operations commenced immediately and all 13 bodies were recovered. The victims have since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites. Among the deceased were eight women, three men, and two children.

The incident has plunged the local community into mourning, with residents lamenting the frequent recurrence of such accidents. The state government has warned boat operators to adhere strictly to safety guidelines, particularly during the rainy season when water levels rise dangerously.

Saturday’s accident is the latest in a series of fatal boat mishaps in the region. In November 2024, a boat carrying about 200 passengers from Kogi to Niger State capsized, killing at least 27 people. In October of the same year, another major boat accident claimed the lives of dozens. In December 2023, 76 people drowned in Anambra State during flooding after a boat went down in a swollen river.

Despite efforts by the National Inland Waterways Authority to enforce regulations, including a ban on night-time sailing and criminalising overloading, compliance remains low in many riverine communities. With poor road infrastructure and highway insecurity, many Nigerians continue to rely on water transport for trade and daily commuting.