At Least 43 Killed as Overloaded Boat Capsizes in Nigeria

At Least 43 Killed as Overloaded Boat Capsizes in Nigeria

At least 43 people, mostly children, have died after an overloaded boat capsized in Nigeria’s northwestern Sokoto State, officials and local residents said on Thursday.

The accident occurred near Gorau in the Goronyo Local Government Area, with rescue teams continuing their search for survivors and victims.

Abdulkadir Yusuf, an area manager at the National Inland Waterways Authority, said around 40 bodies of children had been recovered from the scene. However, Nasiru Adamu, a member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly representing the area, put the death toll at 43 and said 16 people had been rescued.

Local residents said the boat was carrying farm owners and labourers travelling to rice fields for harvesting. One resident said more than 70 people were aboard when the boat capsized, while another estimated that 57 people were on board.

Mustapha Umar, director of relief and rehabilitation at the state emergency management agency, said officials were travelling to the accident site and would provide further details after assessing the situation.

Boat accidents are common in Nigeria, particularly on the country’s rivers and waterways. Overcrowding, poor maintenance of vessels and weak enforcement of safety regulations are frequently cited as major causes of such tragedies.

In January, at least 25 people were killed when a leaking boat capsized in Yobe State in northeastern Nigeria.