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Boat accidents claim 92 lives in eight months, minister fingers wooden canoe

Published

9 months ago

September 2, 2025

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola

Boat accidents claim 92 lives in eight months, minister fingers wooden canoe

About 92 passengers reportedly lost their lives in boat accidents across Nigeria between January and August 2025, despite the Federal Government’s efforts to enhance safety on the nation’s waterways. The accidents occurred in several states, including Rivers, Niger, Sokoto, Kwara, and Zamfara.

This came as the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, appealed to states to phase out wooden boats, stressing in a statement on Sunday that incidents of boat mishaps had persisted largely due to the widespread use of these wooden boats.

An analysis by The PUNCH from various media reports and statements from government agencies indicated that in January, a boat capsized near Bonny Island, resulting in three deaths (two adults and a toddler), while there were 19 survivors.

On May 15, on the Niger River border, Gbajibo-Mudi Area of Kwara State, a boat carrying passengers returning from the market capsized during a storm, and 27 passengers were confirmed dead. Also in July, at Shiroro Area in Niger State, a market-bound passenger boat capsized near Gumu village, with at least 13 people feared dead.

On August 17 in Sokoto, Goronyo market, a boat carrying over 50 passengers capsized. Two days later, it was reported that 25 passengers were still missing while 25 had been rescued. Also on August 22, in the Faji community, Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State, a canoe with 30 passengers capsized, as six persons were confirmed dead, while three were missing.

Also on August 30, 13 people died and more than 20 were declared missing after a boat carrying fleeing villagers capsized in a river in Zamfara State. However, The Nation Newspapers reported on Monday that the number of people who died at the Zamfara boat accident was 16.

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Over the weekend, the National Inland Waterways Authority confirmed another fatal boat mishap at the Jaranja River in the Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State. NIWA Area Manager in Sokoto, Mr Bala Bello, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Sokoto that two persons died, while nine survivors were rescued.

Bello, who said the incident occurred in the afternoon, attributed it to negligence, canoe overloading, and safety rules violations.

In May, The PUNCH reported that Oyetola flagged off the distribution of 42,000 life jackets to waterway users across 12 selected riverine states. Announcing this in a statement, the ministry explained that the landmark move was aimed at enhancing safety on Nigeria’s inland waterways.

It added that the initiative, which kicked off in Minna, Niger State, intends to curb the alarming rate of boat mishaps and fatalities in the country. Oyetola stressed that each of the beneficiary states would receive 3,500 life jackets in the first phase of the strategic safety intervention by the ministry.

The minister, while commiserating with victims of the recent boat incident in the Jaranja River, appealed to states to phase out wooden boats. The minister, in a statement on Sunday through his media aide, Dr Bolaji Akinola, described the tragedy as deeply painful, even as he extended heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Federal Government to all those affected.

The Osun State former governor reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to prioritising waterways safety, while appealing to state governments to urgently complement these efforts by investing in modern, non-wooden boats for commercial operations in their states.

The minister noted that, “despite the ministry’s recent interventions, including the nationwide distribution of 3,500 life jackets to each riverine state, incidents of boat mishaps have persisted largely due to the widespread use of wooden boats. The structural weaknesses of wooden boats make them unsafe for modern commercial operations.”

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He further explained that wooden boats cannot withstand the scale of haulage they are now subjected to, especially under conditions of overloading, thereby making them even more prone to accidents. “The time has come for a decisive break from outdated practices. Wooden boats have served their time, but they cannot be the future of water transport in Nigeria. The tragic mishaps we continue to witness are a direct consequence of the continued reliance on unsafe vessels. We must now chart a safer course for our people,” Oyetola declared.

He highlighted that fibre and aluminium boats, being sturdier, safer, and more durable, represent the global standard for inland and coastal waterway transport. Oyetola called on state governments, particularly those with large riverine populations, to urgently invest in these modern boats, describing such investments as both life-saving and economically strategic.

“Our ministry has mandated the compulsory use of life jackets, and we have supplied them in thousands to riverine states. But life jackets alone cannot guarantee safety without safe boats. I therefore appeal to our state governments to complement the Federal Government’s efforts by deliberately investing in fibre and aluminium boats. This is the seed we must sow today to secure a safer, more prosperous tomorrow,” the minister said.

The Chairman of the United Waterways Passengers Association, Mr Gbenga Oluwadiya, urged the government to enforce the use of life jackets. “The government has tried in the area of giving out life jackets and sensitising people on the wearing. But I think the government needs to do more on the enforcement of the use of life jackets,” he stated.

Earlier, the President of the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria, Mr Olubunmi Olumekun, spoke on the need to differentiate passenger boats from cargo boats to avoid overloading.

“Some boat operators use passenger boats to carry goods. They load people and also have a full load of goods. It is not possible; you have to separate them, let the passenger boat be for passengers, and the one for goods be for goods. You must separate them.

“You must have someone to control them. So take your passenger boat and go to where you want to go, and your goods will get to you; that is what should be happening with boats, just like what we see in the aviation sector,” Olumekun said.

Boat accidents claim 92 lives in eight months, minister fingers wooden canoe

PUNCH

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US Civil Rights Organisation Appoints Deji Adeyanju to Board

Published

3 hours ago

May 15, 2026

Trends Admin

Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju

US Civil Rights Organisation Appoints Deji Adeyanju to Board

Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has been appointed to the Board of the Katutu Civil Rights Center, an international civil rights organisation headquartered in New York, United States.

The appointment was formally communicated to THE WHISTLER on Friday by the organisation, confirming Adeyanju’s inclusion in its global leadership structure.

The Katutu Civil Rights Center is a civil rights and advocacy organisation known for its work in human rights protection, policy engagement, and support for vulnerable and marginalised communities across different regions of the world.

In his acceptance, Adeyanju expressed gratitude for the appointment, saying he was honoured to support the organisation’s mission of advancing human rights and strengthening civic participation globally.

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He noted that the role would further enable him to contribute to justice-oriented advocacy beyond Nigeria, while working alongside international stakeholders focused on democratic governance and civil liberties.

Adeyanju, who has been active in human rights advocacy for over a decade, is widely known for his campaigns against police brutality, civic repression, and abuse of power in Nigeria.

His appointment has been interpreted by observers as international recognition of his long-standing involvement in democracy advocacy, social justice campaigns, and legal representation of activists and citizens in high-profile rights cases.

The Katutu Civil Rights Center said Adeyanju’s selection reflects its commitment to including diverse voices from different regions in its governance structure, particularly individuals with hands-on experience in grassroots human rights work.

The organisation also highlighted his track record in legal activism and public advocacy as key factors in his appointment.

The development has sparked reactions across civic and human rights circles, with supporters describing it as a significant milestone for Nigerian civil society engagement on the global stage.

Adeyanju’s new role is expected to further expand his involvement in international human rights conversations, particularly around accountability, rule of law, and protection of civic freedoms.

US Civil Rights Organisation Appoints Deji Adeyanju to Board

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Woman Gets 20-Year Jail Term For Supporting Terrorism Activities

Published

4 hours ago

May 15, 2026

Trends Admin

Halima Umar

Woman Gets 20-Year Jail Term For Supporting Terrorism Activities

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a housewife, Halima Umar, to 20 years imprisonment after she was found guilty of offences linked to terrorism financing, illegal arms movement, and unlawful possession of ammunition allegedly meant for bandits operating in Plateau State.

Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa delivered the judgment on Friday after the defendant pleaded guilty to two out of a four-count charge filed against her by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The court ruled that offences involving terrorism, illegal arms trafficking, and support for criminal groups posed serious threats to Nigeria’s national security and therefore required stiff punishment.

According to details presented during the trial, Umar admitted acting as a courier responsible for transporting 302 rounds of AK-47 ammunition to suspected bandits.

A DSS operative, Fahad Tahir, who testified before the court, said the defendant was arrested on July 6, 2025, while allegedly transporting the ammunition alongside N57,100 cash.

Investigations later revealed that Umar was allegedly instructed by one Alhaji Sani to travel to Zaria in Kaduna State, where she collected the ammunition from another contact before attempting to deliver it onward.

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The prosecution further told the court that the defendant was transferred to the DSS National Headquarters in Abuja on August 11, 2025, where she made additional confessional statements in the presence of a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council.

During the proceedings, prosecution counsel, Dr. Callistus Samson Ezeh, tendered the recovered ammunition, the cash sum, and the defendant’s confessional statements as exhibits. The defence did not object to the admissibility of the evidence.

Umar also personally admitted before the court that she was in possession of the ammunition and cash at the time of her arrest.

The charges against her included providing support for terrorism-related activities under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and unlawful possession of ammunition under the Firearms Act, 2004.

Although the convict pleaded for leniency and expressed remorse, Justice Yilwa held that crimes connected to terrorism support, arms trafficking, and the movement of illegal ammunition could not be treated lightly because of their grave implications for public safety and national stability.

Following her guilty plea and the evidence presented by the DSS, the court convicted and sentenced her to 20 years imprisonment.

The conviction comes amid intensified efforts by Nigerian security agencies to tackle banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and the illegal movement of weapons across the country.

Woman Gets 20-Year Jail Term For Supporting Terrorism Activities

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Police Dismiss Five Inspectors, Prosecute Three Over Robbery, Kidnapping in Rivers

Published

4 hours ago

May 15, 2026

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Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid

Police Dismiss Five Inspectors, Prosecute Three Over Robbery, Kidnapping in Rivers

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed five inspectors and initiated prosecution proceedings against three others over alleged involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and abuse of office in Rivers State.

The development was confirmed on Friday during the parade of the affected officers at the Rivers State Police Command headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Anthony Placid.

Placid said the disciplinary actions followed extensive investigations into multiple complaints of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, stealing, extortion, and misconduct allegedly carried out by officers operating within Rivers State and other parts of the country.

According to the police spokesperson, three inspectors attached to Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa — identified as Ayanniyi Jelil, Durojaye Francis, and Olayemi Titus — were arrested over the alleged abduction and robbery of a man identified as Festus Saturday. He explained that the officers were allegedly operating an illegal patrol team along the Igboh-Etche axis when they stopped the victim and his cousin during a stop-and-search operation in November 2025.

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The officers were said to have assaulted the victims, forced them to unlock their mobile phones, and gained access to their banking applications and cryptocurrency wallets, before allegedly stealing about ₦7.3 million and $1,742. Placid further alleged that the suspects used AK-47 rifles during the operation and had carried out similar attacks on other unsuspecting residents across Rivers State. Recovered items reportedly include three Toyota Sienna buses allegedly linked to the operation, while three additional officers connected to the case are currently on the run.

In a separate case, five officers attached to the Operations Department of the Rivers State Police Command were dismissed following investigations into allegations of armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and abuse of office. The dismissed officers were identified as John Okoi, Eyibo Asuquo, Udo Ndipmong, Bright Nwachukwu, and Anele Ikechukwu.

Their case followed petitions filed by the Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation on behalf of victims who accused the officers of operating illegal patrol teams and abducting civilians around Port Harcourt. Police investigations reportedly showed that the officers routinely seized victims’ phones, accessed bank details, and transferred funds from accounts and cryptocurrency wallets.

One of the victims, Felix Favour, was allegedly forced to transfer about $4 million in cryptocurrency, while another victim reportedly lost ₦940,000 after being kidnapped along Aba Road. Another complainant, Okparaocha David Ugochukwu, was said to have lost ₦1.3 million, as well as jewellery and a wristwatch valued at over ₦6 million. Investigators also alleged that the officers falsely claimed to be operatives of Zone 16 Headquarters to intimidate victims and evade detection.

Placid said all the affected officers were subjected to orderly room trial procedures before their dismissal, while those indicted in the criminal cases have been recommended for prosecution. He added that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to internal discipline and will not tolerate misconduct that undermines public trust, stressing that efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and ensure accountability.