At least 46 people have died in Nigeria after a boat capsized in north‑western Sokoto state. The vessel, believed to carry more than 70, was mostly filled with children heading to a rice harvest. Police spokesperson Ahmad Rufai confirmed 46 bodies were found near Gorau in Gorony, while six recovered safely and 15 remain missing.
The area’s rugged terrain makes search operations difficult, but security agencies and emergency services are rushing to the scene. A witness told Reuters the children were traveling with farm owners and laborers. He also saw 50 bodies, many wrapped in mats and traditional cloth, lying before a mosque for burial.
Nigeria’s Emergency Management Agency officer Ezekiel Manzo warned of Gorau’s remoteness, noting that teams have already moved into the area. Boat accidents are common in Nigeria, with overcrowding, poorly maintained vessels, and lax enforcement of safety rules cited as primary culprits. Similar incidents have claimed lives in Jigawa and Yobe states, and a December‑2024 disaster recovered 54 bodies from the River Niger after a boat overloaded with more than 200 passengers capsized.
Authorities recommend safer boats, life jackets, dredging waterways, water‑guard stations at jetties, and ensuring operators are properly trained and licensed. However, many of these measures are not fully enforced, especially in rural communities where waterways remain vital transportation routes.
Wooden boats, typically used for moving people and goods, are common but lack safety features, heightening risk.
