A devastating boat accident occurred in Kogi State, involving a vessel carrying over 200 market women from the state. The boat, owned by one Musa Dangana, was traveling to the Katcha weekly market in Niger State when it capsized along the Dambo-Ebuchi section of the River Niger.
According to eyewitnesses, the boat was severely overloaded, carrying far more passengers than its capacity allowed. The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has confirmed the incident, with the Head of NIWA’s Media Department, Suleman Makama, stating that the authority is still investigating to determine the exact number of people involved and the cause of the accident.
As of the latest reports, eight bodies have been recovered, while search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate the remaining passengers. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of water transportation in the region, with NIWA’s Managing Director, Mr. Bola Oyebanji, previously identifying human errors, drug abuse, and non-compliance with safety regulations as the leading causes of boat accidents.
The Kogi State government has been urged to take immediate action to improve safety measures and prevent such tragedies in the future. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety and adhering to regulations to prevent such devastating losses of life.
