Less than seven months after a devastating boat accident claimed over 200 lives in Gbajibo, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, another tragic mishap has occurred in the same region. This time, 37 traders lost their lives in a boat accident that happened on Thursday in the Gbajibo-Mudi community.
The tragic incident has once again drawn national attention to the ongoing safety issues surrounding inland water transportation in Nigeria, particularly in riverine communities that rely on boats for trade and travel.
According to community sources, the ill-fated boat was carrying passengers returning from the weekly market held in Gbajibo. The traders, most of whom were residents of neighboring Niger State, had completed their market activities and were on their way back home when the boat accident occurred around 6:00 p.m.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the boat had a capacity of about 100 passengers but was dangerously overloaded at the time of the incident. The river, swollen due to recent heavy rains, further contributed to the disaster. The combination of excess weight and turbulent waters led to the boat capsizing midway through the journey.
37 Bodies Recovered in Kwara
Mahmoud Gbajibo, a former Chairman of the Kaiama Local Government Area, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview. He stated that community rescue teams were able to recover 37 bodies from the river, while several other passengers were rescued.
“The boat accident happened at around 6 p.m. on Thursday. These were traders who had just closed for the day at the Gbajibo-Mudi market and were heading back to their respective communities in Niger State,” he said. “Unfortunately, the boat was overloaded, and the river was swollen. This combination proved fatal.”
Gbajibo further noted that the efforts of local divers and volunteers helped in the recovery of bodies and the rescue of some survivors. However, the exact number of people rescued remains unclear, as rescue operations were still ongoing as of the time of this report.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Abubakar Abdullahi, and the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Omar, visited the Gbajibo-Mudi community to commiserate with the bereaved families and affected residents.
Their visit underscores the severity of the incident and the emotional toll it has taken on the community. Many residents were visibly distressed, having experienced yet another major boat accident within a short span of time.
“This is a huge loss for our people. We are deeply saddened,” one local elder said. “These traders were the breadwinners of their families.”
Attempts to obtain an official statement from the Kwara State Police Command on Saturday were unsuccessful. The Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, could not be reached, and the State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, did not respond to calls or messages.
Similarly, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, was also unreachable, and messages sent to him via WhatsApp remained unanswered as of the time of filing this report.
The silence from the authorities has left many residents feeling abandoned and questioning the state government’s commitment to addressing recurring boat mishaps in the region.
This latest boat accident is the second major disaster in less than seven months in the Gbajibo area, raising serious concerns about the safety regulations governing inland waterways in Kwara State and other parts of Nigeria.
Experts have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of safety protocols, including regular inspection of boats, proper passenger manifest documentation, and enforcement of loading limits. However, many of these recommendations remain unimplemented, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
A marine safety advocate, speaking anonymously, said, “We’ve seen far too many of these accidents. They are preventable if only there were political will and institutional commitment to safety enforcement.”
The Gbajibo-Mudi boat accident adds to a growing list of fatal incidents on Nigerian waterways. Without immediate intervention by the federal and state governments, experts warn that such tragedies may continue to occur with alarming frequency.
In the aftermath of the incident, local residents and community leaders have renewed calls for improved transportation infrastructure, better monitoring of water traffic, and investment in rescue and emergency response capabilities.
Until these issues are addressed, the lives of traders, commuters, and rural dwellers who rely on water transport will remain at constant risk.
Source-PUNCH
