Tragedy Strikes: Overloaded Ferry Capsizes in Niger State, Leaving at Least 60 Dead

On September 2, 2025, a river ferry carrying more than one hundred passengers capsized and sank in the Malale River, near Gausawa in Niger State, Nigeria. The ferry, which set sail from Tungan Sule heading to Dugga, collided with a submerged tree stump, leading to a tragic incident that has claimed at least sixty lives.

Rescue teams recovered thirty-one bodies from the river, while around fifty individuals were safely rescued and brought to shore. However, many passengers are still unaccounted for, as efforts to locate them continue. According to Abdullahi Baba Ara, the chair of Borgu Local Government, the death toll has risen to sixty, with ten survivors requiring critical medical attention.

The ferry was undertaking a journey linked to a condolence visit for a recently deceased villager. Such maritime accidents are unfortunately common in Nigeria, often attributed to factors like overloading, lack of proper maintenance, and poor adherence to safety regulations.

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