Niger Boat Tragedy: 13 Dead, Dozens Missing in Shiroro River Disaster

Reporting by Joseph Okafor and Rita Uzuh for SpringNewsNG

Niger State, Nigeria — At least 13 bodies have been recovered following a tragic boat mishap that occurred on Saturday, July 27, in Kwata, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. The ill-fated boat was headed to the Zumba market when it capsized around 11:45 a.m., reportedly overloaded with goods and passengers.

According to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), 26 passengers were rescued alive, while several others remain missing as of press time. Rescue operations are ongoing, though authorities say progress is slow due to insecurity in the area, particularly activities of armed bandits that have made movement on the waterway risky.

Eyewitnesses told SpringNewsNG that the boat operator ignored warnings about overloading. “It was packed beyond safe capacity,” said one local trader who narrowly missed boarding the boat.

The Niger State Government has expressed its condolences to the families of the victims and promised a full investigation into the incident.