BREAKING: 40 Bodies Recovered, Dozens Missing After Boat Sinks In Sokoto

No fewer than 40 bodies have been recovered while over a dozen people are still missing after a boat carrying farmers to their rice farms capsized in Gorau town, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, on Thursday.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the incident, saying emergency responders had been deployed to the community to assess the situation and determine the full number of casualties.

The head of NEMA’s Sokoto Operations Office, Alhaji Tukur Abubakar, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with LEADERSHIP in Sokoto.

“Yes, it is true that the boat has unfortunately capsized and there are reported fatalities,” he said.

According to Abubakar, the victims were crossing a stream to access their farms when the boat went down.

He said NEMA officials were on their way to Gorau alongside officials of the Sokoto State Government, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and other emergency responders.

“I am with officials of the Sokoto State Government, the National Inland Waterways Authority, and other emergency responders. So, you will get the details of the disaster much later today,” he added.

A local journalist who witnessed the incident, Sharhabilu Yahuza Kiliya, said more than 70 people were on the boat when it capsized shortly after departure.

He said about 40 bodies had so far been recovered, while six people, including the village head, were rescued.

Most of those on board were reportedly children between the ages of 10 and 15, according to eyewitness accounts.

The latest incident adds to the growing number of boat mishaps across Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season, which have resulted in numerous deaths and injuries.