47 dead after boat capsizes in Sokoto
At least 47 people have died in a boat accident in Sokoto State after a vessel carrying residents to their farms capsized on Thursday.
The incident occurred on a river in the Goronyo Local Government Area of the state.
The victims were reportedly travelling to Gorau town, where they intended to work on their farms.
Abdulkadir Yusuf, the Sokoto State manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), confirmed the death toll to the Associated Press.
Yusuf said 47 deaths had been recorded so far, indicating that the toll could change as rescue and recovery efforts continue.
Women and children among victims
Residents of the community said several women and children were among those who died in the accident.
A 55-year-old resident, Samaila Garba, said his 13-year-old granddaughter, Jamila Usman, was among the victims.
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Garba said he personally counted at least 42 bodies recovered after the boat overturned.
He explained that women and children often use the waterway to reach farms during the rainy season.
Community affected by boat tragedy
Another resident, Aminu Dan Hajiya, said he regularly uses the same waterway to travel to his farm.
He described himself as fortunate not to have been aboard the boat when it capsized.
Dan Hajiya also said the incident had affected almost every household in the community.
The accident has raised concerns about the safety of waterways used by farming communities in Sokoto, particularly during the rainy season.
Authorities are expected to continue recovery efforts as more details about the circumstances surrounding the tragedy emerge.
