Six Feared Dead as Passenger Boat Crashes on Lagos Waterway, Four Rescued

No fewer than six passengers have been confirmed dead, while four others were rescued, following a boat accident on the Nigerdock axis of the Igbologun Water Channel in Lagos State on Tuesday night.

The tragic incident was confirmed in a joint statement issued on Wednesday by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

According to the statement, signed by LASWA Head of Public Affairs, Wuraola Alake, and NIWA Lagos Area Office Head of Corporate Affairs, Omowunmi Yussuff, the accident occurred at about 8:35 p.m. and involved a Savvy Marine passenger boat travelling from Ilashe Beach House.

The agencies said the boat ran into difficulty while navigating the channel, prompting an immediate distress alert that led to the deployment of emergency response teams, working in collaboration with the Marine Police and other first responders.

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“As of the time of this report, four passengers have been successfully rescued and taken to a nearby hospital, where they are receiving medical attention. Sadly, six other passengers were recovered dead at the scene. Search and rescue operations are still ongoing to account for all persons on board,” the statement said.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the vessel may have collided with a submerged object, although authorities noted that a comprehensive investigation is underway to establish the exact cause of the accident.

LASWA and NIWA expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims and reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring safety on Lagos inland waterways.

The agencies also urged waterway users to strictly adhere to safety regulations, including proper navigation procedures and compliance with the night travel rule, while advising members of the public to rely only on verified information from official sources.

Six Feared Dead as Passenger Boat Crashes on Lagos Waterway, Four Rescued

MPAC Condemns Threats Against Igbo Muslims, Calls for Immediate Security Action

The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) Nigeria has condemned in strong terms an alarming audio recording circulating on social media that allegedly calls for violence against Igbo Muslims, describing it as hate speech and a direct incitement to criminality.

The audio, which gained widespread attention on TikTok, is attributed to Mazi Kanayo and reportedly urges members of the Igbo ethnic group to abduct, brutalize, and eliminate fellow Igbos who practice Islam, while falsely accusing them of abandoning their faith for material gain.

In a statement released on Wednesday, MPAC Executive Chairman Disu Kamor warned that such rhetoric poses a serious threat to public safety and undermines Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees of life, religious freedom, and peaceful coexistence.

“History has repeatedly shown that genocidal rhetoric does not start with violence—it begins with words left unchecked, unchallenged, and unpunished,” the statement read.

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MPAC urged security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), to investigate the origin and circulation of the audio and ensure that all those responsible are identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The group also called on regulatory authorities and social media platforms to take swift action to curb the spread of content that promotes hatred or threatens communal harmony, and asked political, community, and religious leaders—particularly in the South-East—to publicly denounce the incitement to violence and reaffirm their commitment to peaceful coexistence.

MPAC stressed that freedom of expression does not include incitement to murder, ethnic cleansing, or religious persecution, urging Nigerians to reject divisive narratives and stand against attempts to weaponize ethnicity or religion.

“The security of one group is inseparable from the security of all,” the statement emphasized.

The organization confirmed it will continue engaging authorities and monitoring the situation to ensure that the dangerous rhetoric is addressed before it escalates into violence.

MPAC Condemns Threats Against Igbo Muslims, Calls for Immediate Security Action

MURIC Calls for Arrest of Maazi Kanayo Over Alleged Threats to Igbo Muslims

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on Nigerian security agencies to arrest and prosecute Maazi Kanayo for allegedly inciting the Igbo people of South Eastern Nigeria to kidnap and kill Igbo Muslims.

The call was made in a statement released on Wednesday, 31st December, 2025, by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola. According to the organization, a viral audio clip showed Kanayo allegedly instructing potential kidnappers and attackers to target Muslims of Igbo extraction living in Enugu, Ebonyi, and Imo States.

“Maazi Kanayo specifically directed his potential kidnappers and killers to target Muslims of Igbo extraction. This is the last thing Nigeria needs at a time when the country faces serious insecurity,” the statement said.

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MURIC described the threats as extremely dangerous, warning that the audio could put thousands of Igbo Muslims’ lives at risk, including some who hold positions as traditional rulers, potentially triggering communal tensions in the South East.

“Every minute counts as the lives of thousands of people hang in the balance,” Professor Akintola said, urging the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police to take immediate action against Kanayo.

MURIC emphasized that the threats were directed at individuals simply for embracing Islam, framing the issue as a grave human rights and security concern. The organization called on the public to remain vigilant and support security agencies in protecting at-risk communities.

#DSS, #NigeriaPolice, #PlotToKillIgboMuslims, #NoToMuslimGenocide.

MURIC Calls for Arrest of Maazi Kanayo Over Alleged Threats to Igbo Muslims