A Tragic Accident Claimed Three Lives in Taraba

By Emmanuel Kwada

A tragic incident occurred on Friday, July 25, 2025, when a passenger boat capsized near the collapsed Namnai Bridge in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, leaving three people missing and presumed dead. The mishap, which took place after a torrential downpour lasting over three hours, has heightened concerns over the safety of water transportation in the region.

According to local sources, the boat was ferrying passengers across the river when it overturned, likely due to the strong currents exacerbated by the heavy rainfall. While the exact number of passengers on board remains unconfirmed, search and rescue operations are ongoing, with local volunteers and emergency responders working tirelessly to locate the missing individuals.

The collapsed Namnai Bridge, a critical link connecting Taraba to Benue and other parts of Nigeria’s North Central, North East, and North West regions, has been in disrepair for over a year. With no significant reconstruction efforts by the federal or state governments, residents have been forced to rely on makeshift boats to cross the river, raising alarm over safety standards.

A recent post on X highlighted the ongoing rescue efforts and local calls for government action to address transport safety in the wake of the tragedy. Professor John Ajai, a university lecturer who narrowly escaped a similar incident last week, described the situation as “a daily threat to human lives.” He criticized the inaction of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), noting their failure to mobilize contractors or announce repair timelines for the bridge. Ajai also called out federal lawmakers representing Taraba for not doing enough to address the issue.

This incident follows a series of boat mishaps in Taraba, including a 2023 accident in Karim Lamido where over 70 lives were lost. Local authorities have repeatedly attributed such tragedies to overloading, lack of life jackets, and poor maintenance of vessels. Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has previously pledged to phase out old boats and enforce the use of safety equipment, but residents continue to face perilous conditions. The community remains in mourning as efforts to locate the missing passengers continue. Calls for urgent government intervention to repair the Namnai Bridge and regulate water transport safety are growing louder, with hopes of preventing further loss of life.

Read Also: Court gives EFCC, Nyako until Oct. 16 to settle N29bn