At least 200 traders are feared dead following a tragic boat accident in Kogi State. The incident occurred along the Dambo-Ebuchi section of the River Niger as the traders were traveling to a market in Niger State.
The Head of Media Department at the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Suleman Makama, confirmed the accident on Friday but noted that details were still emerging.
Eyewitnesses reported that the overloaded boat, owned by one Musa Dangana, was carrying over 200 passengers, including market women and farm laborers, heading to the Katcha weekly market. The boat capsized on Thursday, with only eight bodies recovered so far. Search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate the remaining passengers.
A source stated, “The boat was filled with traders and farmworkers heading to Niger State. While the exact number of casualties is still uncertain, the accident has claimed many lives.”
The Managing Director of NIWA, Bola Oyebanji, attributed most waterway accidents to human errors. Speaking earlier this week during an oversight visit by members of the House of Representatives Committee on NIWA in Lokoja, Oyebanji said, “Ninety-nine percent of mishaps on the waterways are caused by human errors. Research shows that many of these incidents are avoidable and result from negligence.”
He further noted that some boat operators use drugs, which impair their judgment and lead to critical errors. Disobedience to safety regulations and overloading are also recurring issues contributing to such accidents.
As the nation mourns the tragedy, authorities are calling for stricter enforcement of safety regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
