A severely overloaded vessel capsized near Gorau in northwest Nigeria, resulting in at least 40 confirmed deaths, mostly children, with rescue operations continuing.
An overloaded boat sank near Gorau in Goronyo local government area of Sokoto state on Thursday, claiming multiple lives in what authorities describe as an ongoing emergency. According to Abdulkadir Yusuf, a manager at the National Inland Waterways Authority, approximately 40 bodies have been recovered, predominantly children. However, a state legislator from the affected area, Nasiru Adamu, reported a higher death toll of 43, with 16 people successfully rescued.
Accounts of passenger numbers vary among witnesses and officials. Local residents indicated the vessel was transporting farm owners and hired labourers engaged in rice harvesting operations. One resident estimated more than 70 people were aboard at the time of the incident, while another placed the figure at 57. The exact number of passengers remains unclear as rescue efforts are still underway.
Mustapha Umar, director of relief and rehabilitation at the state emergency management agency, confirmed that officials were proceeding to the scene to assess the situation and provide updated information. Such maritime incidents recur regularly across Nigeria's waterway network, with experts attributing the frequency to overcrowding on vessels, inadequate maintenance standards, and inconsistent enforcement of maritime safety protocols. The country experienced a similar tragedy in January when at least 25 people perished following a boat capsizing in Yobe state in the northeast.
