Africa-Press – Nigeria. A local official from the inland waterways authority in Nigeria stated that an overloaded boat capsized off the coast of Sokoto State in the northwest of the country, and the bodies of about 40 children have been recovered so far.
The boat was carrying people heading to farms to work in the town of Gorau in the Goronyo local government area when it capsized in the river.
Abdul Qadir Yusuf, the director of the national inland waterways authority in Sokoto State, reported that the death toll had reached 47 people by Thursday evening, according to local media.
One resident of the area said, “Local divers have recovered the bodies, and search operations are still ongoing.”
Another added that his 13-year-old granddaughter was among the victims of the incident, noting that he counted at least 42 bodies, indicating that most of the victims were women and children.
He mentioned that women and children typically go to the farms to work during the rainy season, which leads them to use the waterways.
Boat accidents resulting in fatalities are common in Nigeria, where vessels often operate under unsafe conditions. At least 25 people died in January when a boat capsized in Yobe State in northeastern Nigeria.
