At least 52 bodies, including 11 members of one family, have been buried after a boat carrying farmers and workers capsized in Gorau, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The accident happened around 8:30am on Wednesday as the boat crossed a waterway. More than 70 people, including several children, most of them girls, were reportedly on board.
NEMA’s Head of Operations in Sokoto, Alhaji Tukur Abubakar, said the exact number of victims was still unknown, but confirmed that 52 bodies had been buried.
“We are about to meet with officials of the sister agency and the local government officials to know the exact number of the victims,” he said.
SEMA spokesperson Abdullahi Ghani said officials were at the scene assessing the situation. “Right now all the concerned authorities are there assessing the situation, trying to know the exact number of the affected persons. No official data yet,” the agency said.
Rescue efforts continued, with local divers and residents searching for missing persons.
The village head, Malam Aliyu Na-Batsami, said the boat capsized in the middle of the waterway. “There were more than 70 of us in the boat. Most of us were farmers going to our farms to work. There were also children among us, most of them girls,” he said.
He survived by grabbing a floating sack before being rescued. “By God’s grace, some people who had entered the water eventually rescued me,” he said.
Na-Batsami said one household lost 11 children, while his own family was safe because his children had crossed earlier.
Residents said the boat developed a fault shortly after leaving shore. Usman Yusuf Shanka said his brother’s wife, Jamila Aminu, and her children, Yasir and Sani Aminu, died, along with Umar Muhammad. He urged the government to build a bridge or provide safer transport.
Goronyo lawmaker Nasiru Adamu blamed overcrowding. “When we asked him why he allowed over 70 people to board the boat, he said he did his best to stop them from overcrowding the boat, but they refused to follow his instructions,” Adamu said.
He urged caution, noting that a similar accident occurred last year in Kojo, Goronyo.
Last year, the Sokoto Government distributed 20 motorised boats and 2,000 life jackets to riverine communities. Governor Ahmed Aliyu said the move was aimed at protecting residents and their property. He also warned against overloading and ordered proper maintenance and security of the boats.
However, Adamu said Gorau had not received the items.
“Gorau had not received the engine-powered boats and life jackets reportedly purchased and distributed by the Sokoto State Government to communities located along waterways,” he said.
