Nigeria: Dozens dead after boat capsizes in Sokoto
At least 50 people — many of them reportedly children — have died in a boat accident in northwestern Nigeria.
A boat capsized in a river in Sokoto state, northwest Nigeria, resulting in at least 50 deaths, according to local authorities. The overloaded vessel was transporting people to work on farms, and at least 40 of the victims were children, reported Abdulkadir Yusuf, an area manager for the National Inland Waterways Authority. Samaila Garba, a resident, confirmed that his 13-year-old granddaughter perished in the disaster and claimed to have identified at least 42 bodies, predominantly women and children.
Rescue efforts are in progress, with the National Emergency Management Agency in Sokoto state confirming their presence at the accident scene. Former local councilor Ibrahim Musa described the situation as dire, stating that 46 bodies have already been buried, and five more were retrieved from the river. The source material highlights that such accidents are frequent in Nigeria during the rainy season, often due to overcrowded boats, inadequate maintenance, or non-compliance with safety regulations. A similar incident in Yobe state in January claimed the lives of at least 25 individuals.
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