At least 25 people, including 10 members of the same family, are feared dead following a tragic boat accident in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. The incident occurred around 11:45 a.m. on Saturday in the Gunu community, as the victims were traveling to the Kwata-Zumba weekly market.

The boat, reportedly overloaded with passengers and farm produce, capsized mid-journey, plunging its occupants into the water. The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed the incident through a statement issued by its Director General, Abdullahi Arah.

NSEMA has launched a rescue operation involving its officials, local divers, and community volunteers. While some passengers, including the boat operator, were successfully rescued, efforts to recover bodies and find possible survivors are still ongoing.

Traditional leader Umar Isah confirmed the tragedy and provided a preliminary death toll of about 25. He noted that an entire family of 10 was among those who perished, with another family reporting five members still missing. The actual number of passengers remains uncertain, as the boat operator did not keep a manifest.