At least 40 missing after boat capsizes in northwestern Nigeria

Nigeria: At least 40 people are missing after a boat capsized on a river in northwestern Nigeria on Sunday, authorities have confirmed.

The incident occurred near the Goronyo area in Sokoto State as the boat was ferrying passengers to a local market, Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said in a statement issued late Sunday.

So far, only 10 individuals have been rescued as search and rescue operations continue in the area.

This tragedy is the latest in a string of deadly boat accidents to hit Nigeria’s waterways. Such incidents are particularly frequent during the rainy season, especially in remote communities, and are often attributed to overloaded and poorly maintained vessels.

Just last month, at least 25 people lost their lives when a boat en route to a market in north-central Nigeria capsized.

According to a tally by local media outlet TheCable, a minimum of 326 people have died in boat-related accidents across Nigeria in 2024 alone.

Experts blame the rising death toll on lax enforcement of safety regulations, noting that many boats operate without life jackets and other essential safety measures.

(AP)