The Kwara State Government has urged boat operators to strictly adhere to safety regulations following a tragic accident on the Gbajibo River, which claimed the lives of 37 traders last Thursday. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq clarified that the incident occurred in Niger State, not Kwara.

In a statement issued through Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor extended heartfelt condolences to the victims' families, stressing: "It is both painful and unacceptable that there remains a culture of ignoring safety gadgets provided by the government. Boat operators and passengers must prioritise safety."

Mallam Ajakaye confirmed the incident during a telephone interview with PUNCH Metro , noting that while Kwara condemns such accidents, the tragedy took place in Niger State waters.

"The accident happened on Thursday evening while the traders, who had come to trade in Gbajigbo Mudi, were returning home. It happened in Niger State, and all the victims' bodies recovered from the river were buried in Niger State. That was the reason we kept silent on it," Ajakaye said.

According to reliable sources, the traders had attended a weekly market in the area and were en route to their communities in Niger State when the accident occurred.

The boat, reportedly built to carry about 100 passengers, was said to be overloaded.

The situation, PUNCH Metro gathered, was further worsened by the high water level of the river, which had overflowed its banks.

A former chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Mahmoud Salihu, also confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with PUNCH Metro on Saturday.

He said, "The boat accident occurred at about 6 p.m. on Thursday after the traders closed from the market in Gbajigbo Mudi and were returning to their various communities in Niger State when the tragic incident happened.

"Thirty-seven corpses were recovered from the river, while many others were rescued. The cause of the accident can be attributed to the overloading of the boat, and the increased water volume also contributed."

Salihu further disclosed that the current Chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Abubakar Abdullahi, and the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Shehu Omar, were present in the community to offer their condolences and support.

Efforts by PUNCH Metro to obtain a confirmation from the state police command were unsuccessful as multiple attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, failed, while calls and messages to the state Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, were not returned.

A similar boat accident occurred in Gbajibo on October 4, 2024, when a vessel carrying guests returning from a Maulud celebration in the Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State capsized, resulting in the deaths of over 200 passengers.