Nigeria boat capsize leaves dozens dead, several missing
By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent At least 50 people have died after an overloaded wooden vessel capsized in northwestern Nigeria. The disaster unfolded on Thursday in the Goronyo local government area of Sokoto state. Most of the passengers on board were children travelling to local farms for seasonal work. Search and rescue operations […]
Fifty people lost their lives when an overloaded wooden boat capsized in Northwestern Nigeria on Thursday, according to reports. The tragedy unfolded in the Goronyo local government area of Sokoto state, where most of the passengers were children en route to local farms for seasonal work. Rescue teams have recovered 16 survivors, but 15 individuals remain missing.
Police spokesperson Ahmad Rufai confirmed the grim toll, noting the remote location of Goronyo made rescue operations particularly challenging. Ezekiel Manzo of the National Emergency Management Agency stated that the team had moved to the remote site to coordinate recovery efforts. Eyewitnesses described a devastating scene, with dozens of victims laid out for traditional funerals at a community mosque.
Lawmaker Nasiru Adamu reported that the majority of passengers were between 10 and 15 years old, with local resident Samaila Garba mourning the loss of his 13-year-old granddaughter. The disaster highlights the systemic safety issues plaguing river transport in rural Nigeria, where overcrowding, poor maintenance, and weak regulations contribute to frequent tragedies.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
