The tragic incident occurred around 2 p.m. on Saturday when a boat carrying passengers from Guni in the Munya Local Government Area to a weekly market capsized after hitting a submerged tree log on the river.

The Sarkin Ruwa of Zumba, Umar Isah, who confirmed the development, said the victims were mostly traders heading to the popular market in Zumba.

He said a family lost 10 members to the accident, while another family reported five of its members missing.

“Although the boat operator could not state the exact number of passengers, we estimate that about 25 people lost their lives in the mishap. Many others are still missing and unaccounted for,” Isah said.

According to him, the overcrowded wooden boat capsized midstream after it struck a tree trunk beneath the water’s surface.

The absence of life jackets and the lack of regulation for inland water transport have been blamed for the frequent loss of lives in the area.

It was reported that the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, NSEMA, confirmed the incident.

The agency’s Director of Information and Special Duties, Ibrahim Hussaini, said rescue operations were ongoing.