Tragedy struck the Gbajibo-Mudi community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State on Thursday evening, as at least 37 traders reportedly lost their lives in a boat accident on the River Niger while returning home from a local market.
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The incident, which occurred around 6:00 p.m., coincided with the anniversary of a similar boat disaster in the same location last year, in which over 200 Maulud celebrants perished on their way home to Niger State from Mokwa Local Government Area.
According to local sources, the ill-fated boat—estimated to have a capacity of about 100 passengers—was overloaded and faced further danger due to the rising water levels of the River Niger. The traders were said to be returning to various communities in Niger State after closing from the Gbajigbo-Mudi market.
Confirming the incident in a message to local authorities, former chairman of Kaiama LGA, Mahmoud S. Gbajibo, said rescue efforts were immediately launched by members of the affected communities, who recovered several bodies from the river.
Both the current chairman of the LGA, Abubakar Abdullahi, and the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Shehu Omar, were present in the community to sympathise with the victims’ families.
While the Kwara State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement, Hassan Adekunle, spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, confirmed the tragedy in a phone interview, noting that the community had already buried the victims before alerting the emergency services.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq expressed his deep condolences to the bereaved families. He described the incident as a painful and avoidable tragedy, reiterating calls for strict adherence to safety protocols on waterways.
“The governor again urges boat operators and passengers to adhere to safety regulations for the good of all,” Ajakaye said. “He describes as painful and unacceptable the culture of not using safety gadgets repeatedly provided by the government. He prays to God to repose the souls of the victims.”
Meanwhile, another accident claimed at least seven lives and injured 16 others on the Agaie-Badeggi Road in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State on the same day.
A truck carrying government-distributed grains and 36 male passengers reportedly crashed in Essa community, en route from Lagos to Kano. According to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), the crash was caused by bad portions of the road, particularly near the Lambata-Bida axis.
Of the injured, 11 sustained severe injuries, while five suffered minor wounds. Emergency responders, villagers, and fellow travellers carried out search and rescue operations, and most of the deceased were reportedly removed from the scene by relatives.
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