19th May, 2025
No fewer than 27 traders are feared dead following a tragic boat mishap in the Gbajibo community of Kaiama Local Government Area, Kwara State.
The victims were returning from a weekly market in neighbouring Niger State on Thursday night when the overloaded boat capsized on the River Niger. According to one of the survivors, the accident was caused by the combination of overloading and travelling at night—two practices common along the river despite being highly unsafe.
Chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Hon. Abdullah Danladi, confirmed the incident on Sunday, noting that he had led a government delegation to condole with the bereaved families.
“This is a painful loss to the entire local government. We have met with the affected families and assured them that measures will be taken to prevent future occurrences,” he said.
Danladi announced plans to constitute a committee that will enforce the compulsory use of life jackets for all boat passengers and operators. He also said steps would be taken to prohibit night-time travel on the river to avert further disasters.
The Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Omar, also mourned the tragedy, describing it as both sad and preventable. He called for greater compliance with water transport safety regulations by all stakeholders.
“We must begin to take safety seriously. It is the responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure that such a calamity does not repeat itself,” the monarch stressed.
Riverine communities along the River Niger in Kwara North have recorded multiple boat mishaps in recent years, largely due to weak enforcement of safety rules.
