At least 50 killed, mostly children, as boat capsizes in Nigeria

At least 50 people lost their lives after an overloaded boat capsized in Nigeria's northwest Sokoto state on Thursday, according to witnesses. The accident occurred near Gorau in Goronyo local government area, and rescue operations are ongoing, reported Abdulkadir Yusuf, a manager at the National Inland Waterways Authority. A Reuters correspondent witnessed 50 bodies, many wrapped in mats and traditional cloths, lying in the forecourt of a community mosque prior to their burial in Gorau later on Thursday.

Overcrowding, poor maintenance, and weak enforcement of safety regulations are common factors contributing to deadly boat accidents in Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season when such incidents tend to be more frequent. A local resident claimed that the boat was carrying farm owners and laborers hired for rice harvesting, with over 70 people onboard at the time of the capsize. Another resident reported that there were 57 individuals on board.

Yusuf stated that around 40 of the deceased were children. Nasiru Adamu, a lawmaker from the area and a member of the Sokoto state legislature, noted that those on board were mostly aged between 10 and 15 years old, and 16 people had been rescued. "We have buried 46 people, and even more dead bodies have just been brought. The death toll is 53," testified Sharhabilu Kiliya, an eyewitness to the tragedy.

Mustapha Umar, the director of relief and rehabilitation at the state's emergency management agency, said officials were en route to the site and would supply additional information later. In January, a leaking boat capsized in Yobe state, northeast Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of at least 25 people.