Search Continues for Missing Passengers After Boat Capsizes in Nigeria
Rescue teams in Sokoto State, northwestern Nigeria, are searching for over 40 people missing after a boat carrying more than 50 passengers capsized while traveling to Goronyo Market on Sunday, reports 24brussels.
Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has dispatched a response team following reports of the incident. NEMA’s director general, Zubaida Umar, called the occurrence a “tragic boat mishap.” As a result of the accident, approximately 10 passengers have been rescued, while over 40 are still unaccounted for. Local media outlets, including The Punch, suggest that the vessel was overloaded, a persistent problem in the region’s riverine communities.
Boat accidents are a recurring issue in Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season from March to October, when overflowing rivers create dangerous conditions. Recent incidents in Sokoto and nearby Niger and Jigawa states have resulted in fatalities and a growing number of people missing at sea.
In August 2024, a capsized wooden canoe in Sokoto state led to the deaths of 16 farmers who were en route to their rice fields. Moreover, last month in Niger State, at least 13 individuals lost their lives and dozens went missing when a boat carrying around 100 passengers overturned. Just two days later, six girls drowned in Jigawa State while returning home from agricultural work.
Authorities are continuing their efforts to locate the missing passengers, emphasizing the ongoing safety challenges associated with river transport in northwestern Nigeria. This tragedy underscores the urgent need for stricter safety measures in vulnerable communities, where such incidents have proven deadly and far too common.
