Sokun, Lapai LGA, Niger State – April 10, 2025 — A tragic boat accident on the River Niger has claimed the lives of several passengers, mostly traders, travelling from Kogi State to Niger State on Wednesday night.
The incident occurred near Sokun Village in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, with eyewitnesses confirming that the ill-fated boat was conveying passengers and over 200 bags of paddy rice from Bugge Village in Kogi State.
According to local sources, the vessel was caught in cloudy weather conditions and a violent windstorm, which led to the fatal mishap. The exact number of passengers aboard remains uncertain, though several fatalities have been confirmed.
A local resident, Baba Alhassan, told reporters that none of the bags of rice survived the accident, having been swept away in the river.
“We still do not know how many people were in the boat, but it was a market trip and heavily loaded with both people and goods. All the rice is gone,” he said.
The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba Arah, also confirmed the incident, stating that efforts were underway to ascertain the total number of casualties and the precise cause of the mishap.
“We are coordinating with local divers and community leaders to recover bodies and determine the full extent of the tragedy,” he said.
As of press time, recovery operations were still ongoing, and authorities have urged riverine communities to exercise caution and adhere to weather advisories during boat travel, especially during the rainy season.
This marks yet another reminder of the dangers faced by traders and commuters in riverine areas due to inadequate regulation, overloaded vessels, and unpredictable weather conditions.
