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

At least 50 individuals, predominantly children, tragically perished on Thursday following a capsized boat in Nigeria's northwest Sokoto state, according to witnesses. The incident occurred near Gorau in the Goronyo local government area, and rescue operations persist. Abdulkadir Yusuf, an official from the National Inland Waterways Authority, reported that 50 bodies, many encased in mats and traditional fabrics, were discovered in the forecourt of a community mosque ahead of burial proceedings later that day.

Boat accidents are unfortunately frequent in Nigeria, primarily due to overcrowding, insufficient maintenance, and weak enforcement of safety regulations, especially during the rainy season. Eyewitnesses provided varying accounts of the number of people on board before the capsizing. One local resident claimed the vessel transported farm owners and laborers hired for rice harvesting, while another mentioned over 70 individuals were on board.

Yusuf indicated that approximately 40 of the deceased were children, with lawmaker Nasiru Adamu confirming the passengers were predominantly aged between 10 and 15 years old. Rescue efforts managed to save 16 people.

Sharhabilu Kiliya, an eyewitness, reported that 46 bodies had already been buried, with additional bodies arriving, bringing the total death toll to 53. Mustapha Umar, director of relief and rehabilitation at the state's emergency management agency, stated that officials were en route to the scene and would furnish further details subsequently. In January, at least 25 people lost their lives when a leaking boat capsized in Yobe state, located in northeast Nigeria.