By Stephen Simon
At least 50 people, mostly children, have died after an overloaded boat capsized in Gorau, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, with rescue teams continuing efforts to recover more victims.
The accident occurred on Thursday morning as the wooden boat was transporting people towards their farms. Local residents said the vessel was carrying farmers and labourers heading to rice farms when it overturned shortly after setting out.
The exact number of passengers on board remained unclear, although witnesses said there could have been more than 70 people on the boat. Another account put the number at 57, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the tragedy as recovery operations continued.
Abdulkadir Yusuf, an area manager with the National Inland Waterways Authority, said about 40 children were among the bodies recovered. A lawmaker representing the area, Nasiru Adamu, said most of those aboard were between 10 and 15 years old.
The scale of the tragedy became evident when bodies were brought to a community mosque in Gorau ahead of burial. A Reuters witness reported seeing about 50 bodies wrapped in mats and traditional cloths at the mosque.
While officials initially put the death toll at about 47 to 50, an eyewitness, Sharhabilu Kiliya, later said the number had risen to 53 after more bodies were recovered. Sixteen people were also reported to have survived the accident.
However, subsequent local reports indicate that the casualty figures may still be changing as authorities reconcile the number of passengers, survivors and recovered bodies. Police were also reported to be investigating the incident and the number of people still unaccounted for.
The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the persistent problem of unsafe water transportation in Nigeria. Overcrowded boats, poor maintenance, inadequate enforcement of safety regulations and the absence or non-use of life jackets have frequently been identified as factors behind fatal boat accidents.
The incident also comes only months after another fatal boat accident in Yobe State, where at least 25 people were reported killed when a leaking boat capsized in January.
For communities that depend on waterways to reach farms, markets and neighbouring settlements, boats are not simply a means of transportation but an economic necessity. The Sokoto tragedy therefore raises fresh questions about whether enough is being done to make inland water transport safer, particularly during the rainy season.
Rescue and recovery operations were still continuing as of Thursday, while state emergency officials and the National Inland Waterways Authority were coordinating the response. Authorities are expected to provide further information as the recovery effort progresses.
