A boat capsized in Nigeria: at least 50 people were killed
In Sokoto State in northwestern Nigeria, an overloaded boat capsized, killing at least 50 people. Local authorities reported this on Thursday, according to Deutsche Welle.
According to reports, the boat was carrying people on their way to farm work. Local officials and residents said that at least 40 children were among the dead.
Abdulqadir Yusuf, a representative of the National Inland Waterways Authority, told Reuters that there were approximately 40 children’s bodies. A resident of the Samaila district, Garba, told the Associated Press that his 13-year-old granddaughter was among the dead. He said he counted at least 42 bodies, most of which were women and children.
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Daghir Kure, a spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Agency in Sokoto State, told AFP that a rescue operation had begun at the scene. Former local council member Ibrahim Musa stated that 46 of the victims had already been buried, and five more bodies had been recovered from the river.
Fatal boat accidents occur regularly in Nigeria, especially during the rainy season. Among the causes cited for such incidents are overloading of vessels, inadequate maintenance, and failure to follow safety regulations. In January, at least 25 people died in a similar accident in Yobe State in the northeastern part of the country.
