Sokoto State, Nigeria — Nigeria is mourning the victims of a devastating boat accident in Sokoto State that has claimed the lives of at least 50 people, most of them children.
The boat capsized near Gorau in Goronyo Local Government Area while carrying more than 70 people.
Many of those on board were rice farmers and workers travelling to their farms.
Reports indicate that about 40 of the victims were children between the ages of 10 and 15. At least 16 people were rescued, while rescue teams continued searching the waterways.
The death toll was later reported to have reached 53.
The tragedy has once again raised questions about safety on Nigeria’s inland waterways. Overcrowded boats, poor maintenance and weak enforcement of safety rules have been linked to repeated boat accidents across the country.
The incident has caused deep sorrow in the affected communities, with families gathering to identify and bury their loved ones.
The Sokoto disaster is also a reminder of the dangers faced by rural communities that depend on waterways to reach farms and other parts of their communities.
Many Nigerians are now calling for stronger enforcement of safety standards on the country’s rivers and waterways.
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