Six killed, nine injured in Taraba boat accident

Six passengers lost their lives and nine others were injured in a boat accident on Jole River in the Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State.

A counter-insurgency expert focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, made this known in a post on X and seen by PUNCH Metro on Sunday.

According to him, the incident occurred on Saturday.

He explained that the boat was conveying 15 people when it capsised.

He disclosed that rescue efforts led to the recovery of nine survivors, while the bodies of six passengers were later pulled from the river.

“The deceased persons have been identified as Dadi Mallam Dotti (30), Mubarak Abdu (21), Bappa Mallam Dotti (20), Adamu Yayagardi (30), and one Madugu (22), all from Badabdi, Funakaye LGA of Gombe State, of the Terawa ethnic group. The sixth victim was Umar Gambo (34), of Zaura Ward, Damban LGA, Bauchi State, of the Karakare ethnic group.

“The boat driver is currently at large, and efforts are ongoing to locate him.

“The police source said that search and recovery operations were conducted in collaboration with local divers and community volunteers,” he stated.

Makama noted that the Taraba State Police Command confirmed the incident.

PUNCH Metro reported that three people, including a toddler, were confirmed dead when a passenger boat travelling from Port Harcourt to Bonny in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State capsised in January 2025.

It was gathered that the incident was caused by a storm in an area called ‘Yellow Platform near Bonny Island.

The boat was said to have ferried 22 passengers from the Bonny/Nembe/Bille Waterfront Jetty in Port Harcourt, but three of the occupants did not make it when the boat capsized as a result of the storm.

The spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, describing it as sad.