Niger boat accident leaves 30 dead and 50 rescued in Gausawa, as NEMA intensifies search for missing passengers and urges stricter safety measures

Niger boat accident has left the Gausawa community in Borgu Local Government Area in mourning after 30 people lost their lives in a devastating crash.

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According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the boat was carrying about 90 passengers when it capsized on Tuesday along a water channel.

Fifty passengers were rescued, while one more body was recovered Thursday, bringing the confirmed death toll to 30. Several others remain missing.

NEMA’s Head of Press Unit, Manzo Ezekiel, confirmed the figures in a statement, noting that the Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has directed the Minna Operations Office to intensify search and rescue efforts.

Eyewitnesses said the vessel was overloaded and struck a tree stump, leading to the accident.

Rescue operations are being led by the Niger State Emergency Management Agency in collaboration with the National Inland Waterways Authority, the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, local divers, and volunteers.

Boat accidents have become a recurring tragedy in Nigeria, especially in riverine communities where water transport is essential.

Experts say overloading, use of unsafe vessels, weak enforcement of safety rules, and lack of life jackets continue to put lives at risk.

NEMA emphasized that it is working closely with partners to coordinate a sustained response, while calling for urgent reforms to prevent future disasters.

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For families in Gausawa, grief runs deep as they await news of missing loved ones, underscoring the painful reality that without stronger safety measures, such tragedies may continue.