30 Die, 58 Rescue In Niger Boat Accident

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday announced that at least 30 people lost their lives in the tragic boat accident that occurred on September 2, 2025, in the Gausawa community, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The agency also confirmed that no fewer than 58 passengers were rescued from the incident, while one more body was recovered.
The tragic accident involved a boat carrying about 90 passengers along a water channel in Gausawa.
The Head of Press Unit at NEMA, Manzo Ezekiel, disclosed this in a press statement on Thursday to newsmen
Providing an update on the tragedy, the statement noted that the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has directed the agency’s Minna Operations Office to intensify ongoing search and rescue operations.
“Witnesses at the scene of the incident revealed that about 90 persons were onboard the ill-fated vessel. So far, 58 passengers have been rescued, while over 30 lives have been lost as one additional body was recovered this afternoon. Several other passengers remain unaccounted for, with search and rescue efforts still ongoing.
“Initial investigations indicate that the mishap was caused by overloading of the vessel, compounded by a collision with a tree stump along the water channel.
“The Niger State Emergency Management Agency is leading the rescue operation alongside other stakeholders, including the National Inland Waterways Authority, the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, local divers, and community volunteers,” the agency said.