A tragic incident occurred on Thursday in Sokoto state, Nigeria, as a boat capsized in a river, resulting in at least 47 fatalities, according to officials and residents.
The vessel was transporting over 80 individuals, primarily on their way to work on farms within the Gorau town of the Goronyo local government area.
Abdulkadir Yusuf, the state manager at the National Inland Waterways Authority in Sokoto, confirmed the death toll, stating, “the death toll was 47 people so far.”
Samaila Garba, a resident of the area, said he lost his 13-year-old granddaughter, Jamila Usman, in the tragedy. Garba noted he had counted 42 bodies, mostly women and children. “During the rainy season, most women and children go to the farm to work,” he explained.
Another resident, Aminu Dan Hajiya, uses the same route for his farm work. He expressed relief at having missed the ill-fated journey, saying the tragedy affected nearly every household in the community.
Community leader Usman Yusuf of Gorau stated that over 80 passengers were on board, with 41 already buried following the disaster.
Such deadly boat accidents are frequently reported in Nigeria, especially in the rainy season. A lack of enforcement of safety regulations allows substandard boats to operate without life jackets. In a similar case, in January, at least 25 lives were lost in Yobe state.