At least 46 people have died after a boat carrying 77 passengers capsized in Gorau community, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The incident occurred on Thursday, with the Sokoto State Police Command confirming that 15 passengers were rescued alive, while rescue teams continued searching for the remaining 16 people.
Police spokesperson DSP Ahmed Rufai said local divers, the National Emergency Management Agency, the State Emergency Management Agency and the police were involved in the ongoing operation.
“46 corpses have so far been recovered, while 15 persons were rescued alive,” Rufai said.
The boat had 77 passengers, including men, women and children. The cause of the accident was not immediately known.
The tragedy has plunged Gorau into mourning as families await information about relatives who remain missing.
The accident also occurred exactly one year after a similar boat accident in Kijio community, also in Goronyo LGA.
The African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, expressed condolences to the victims’ families and urged authorities to deploy more rescue personnel, medical teams and equipment.
Dan’iya said some of those on board were reportedly children aged between 10 and 15 who were travelling with farmers and labourers.
He also called for safer boats, life jackets, trained boat operators, improved emergency response equipment and alternative crossings for farming communities that depend on waterways.
The search and rescue operation was still ongoing at the time of the report.
