Thu Sep 04 01:34:32 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

A boat carrying over 100 passengers capsized in Niger State, Nigeria, resulting in at least 60 deaths and many missing. The overloaded vessel struck a submerged tree stump on the Kainji reservoir while en route to a condolence visit. Women and children comprised the majority of the casualties. Overloading and poor safety standards are common factors in frequent boat accidents in Nigeria.

**News Article:**

**At Least 60 Dead, Dozens Missing After Overloaded Boat Capsizes in Nigeria**

**Niger State, Nigeria -** Tragedy struck in Niger State, Nigeria, on Tuesday as an overloaded passenger boat capsized on the Kainji reservoir, leaving at least 60 people dead and many more missing. The boat, carrying over 100 passengers, was traveling from Tungan Sule to Dugga when it struck a submerged tree stump near the Gausawa community, according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA).

“The cause was attributed to overloading and collision with a tree stump,” NSEMA told Daily Trust. The agency confirmed that women and children were among the passengers.

Rescue operations are ongoing to recover missing persons. “The death toll of the boat incident has risen to 60,” Abdullahi Baba Ara, NSEMA’s director general, told Reuters. “Ten people have been found in serious condition, and many are still being sought.”

Local officials reported that the majority of the deceased were women and children. Four victims have already been buried according to Islamic rites.

This incident highlights the ongoing problem of boat accidents in Nigeria’s riverine communities. Lax safety enforcement, overcrowding, and poorly maintained vessels are common contributing factors, particularly during the rainy season when rivers and lakes are at their highest levels. A similar incident occurred in Sokoto State in August, where over 40 people went missing after a boat capsized due to overloading.

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