SOKOTO, Nigeria — Rescue operations continued Friday in northwestern Nigeria's Sokoto State following a devastating boat accident that left more than 50 people dead, predominantly children and young laborers.
The wooden vessel, which local residents and authorities said was heavily overloaded, capsized on Thursday morning while crossing a river in the Goronyo Local Government Area. The passengers—numbering upwards of 70—were predominantly local farmers, farmhands, and children heading toward agricultural fields near Gorau town to plant and harvest rice.
According to officials from the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the death toll had climbed to over 50 by Friday morning as local divers and emergency responders pulled more bodies from the water. Lawmakers and community leaders reported that many of the victims trapped in the disaster were children between the ages of 10 and 15.
"We already buried 46 bodies, and others have just been brought out of the river," said Ibrahim Musa, a former local councilor in Gorau. Survivors and eyewitnesses recounted that the watercraft sank mere moments after pushing away from the bank due to severe overcrowding. While at least 15 to 16 passengers were rescued alive, dozens remain unaccounted for as search-and-recovery efforts persist.
A Recurrent Crisis on Nigeria's Waterways
The catastrophe has reignited intense scrutiny over maritime safety protocols in Nigeria, where water transport is vital for rural farming communities lacking adequate bridge and road infrastructure.
Deadly capsizing incidents remain a grim fixture of the rainy season. Authorities frequently point to systemic issues—including widespread vessel overcrowding, poor maintenance, a lack of mandatory life jackets, and weak enforcement of safety regulations—as the primary drivers behind these recurring tragedies.
State emergency services and local authorities have pledged to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Sokoto disaster as grieving families gather in Gorau to mourn the latest victims of the country's waterway crisis.
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