A boat carrying 39 passengers has capsized in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The incident which happened on Saturday claimed the lives of 13 individuals.

Confirming the incident on Sunday, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), said 26 people were successfully rescued.

In a statement, NSEMA’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, Malik Baba Suleiman, said the dead victims have been buried according to Islamic rites.

He said the agency’s search and rescue operation, which began immediately after the incident, led to the recovery of all 13 bodies.

Among the deceased were eight women, three men, and two children.

Though the identities of the victims are yet to be released, but the incident has since thrown the community into a state of mourning.

The ill-fated boat, which was reportedly overloaded with goods and passengers, capsized near Guni village around 11:45 a.m. while en route to Zumba. It is believed that the mishap was caused by water turbulence and possible overloading, though investigations are still ongoing.

The Niger State Government, through NSEMA, has warned river users to observe safety guidelines and avoid overcrowding boats, especially during the rainy season when water levels rise unpredictably.

The incident is the latest in a series of boat mishaps that have plagued riverine communities in Niger State, prompting calls for urgent government intervention and improved water transport safety measures.

In November 2024, at least 27 people died when a boat capsized on the Niger River in central Nigeria.

The boat was carrying about 200 passengers from the state of Kogi to a food market in the neighbouring state of Niger when it capsized late on November 29, with more than half reportedly missing, according to Ibrahim Audu, a spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency.