At least 46 people have died following a boat accident in Gorau community, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, with rescue teams continuing efforts to locate passengers still unaccounted for.
The incident occurred on Thursday when a boat carrying 77 passengers, including farmers, women and children, capsized in the community. According to the Sokoto State Police Command, 15 passengers were rescued alive while 16 others were still missing at the time of the report.
Police spokesperson DSP Ahmed Rufai said local divers, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and police personnel were involved in the search and recovery operation.
The accident has plunged Gorau into mourning as families wait anxiously for information about relatives who were aboard the boat. The cause of the incident had not been established when the report was filed.
The tragedy also occurred about a year after another boat accident in Kijio community, also within Goronyo Local Government Area, highlighting continuing concerns over water transport safety in the area.
Reacting to the incident, African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, expressed condolences to the victims’ families and the wider community.
Dan’iya called for stronger emergency response measures, including additional rescue personnel, medical teams and equipment. He also urged authorities to properly identify and document the victims to assist their families.
He further advocated improved safety measures on waterways, including better regulation of boats, provision of life jackets, training for boat operators and the development of bridges or alternative routes where necessary.
The politician said greater attention should be given to rural communities that depend on waterways to access their farms, stressing the need to make transportation safer for residents.
Meanwhile, rescue operations were continuing as authorities and local divers searched for those still missing.
