A boat carrying about 40 passengers has capsized in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State, leaving one person confirmed dead and more than 30 others feared missing as emergency responders continue search and rescue operations.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening in the Malamawar Yan Dutse community, where the boat, conveying mostly female farmers, labourers, women and children, reportedly overturned while crossing a river.
The Jigawa State Police Command confirmed the incident through its Public Relations Officer, SP Shi’isu Lawan Adam, who said one body had been recovered as of Monday morning.
While local residents fear that more than 30 passengers may have drowned, police and emergency officials said those unaccounted for are officially regarded as missing pending the outcome of ongoing rescue efforts.
The Director of Planning at the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Muhammad Bala Sanusi, said the exact cause of the accident had yet to be determined.
Also, the Chairman of the Ringim Local Government Emergency Management Committee, Malam Habibu Dauda, appealed to residents and families of the victims to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information or casualty figures until official updates are released.
The latest tragedy has renewed concerns over the recurring boat accidents across Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season, when many rural communities depend on waterways for transportation.
In recent years, similar incidents have claimed lives in several states, including Niger, Sokoto, Kwara, Taraba, Kebbi, Kogi, Zamfara, Benue, Adamawa, Kano, Bauchi, Lagos, Anambra and Rivers.
The repeated accidents have continued to raise concerns about poor safety compliance on Nigeria’s inland waterways, with stakeholders calling for stricter enforcement of regulations, including the compulsory use of life jackets, proper passenger manifests, safety awareness campaigns and measures against overloading and unsafe night travel.
Rescue operations are ongoing as emergency agencies continue efforts to locate the missing passengers.
