Rescue teams in northern Nigeria are actively searching for over 40 individuals reported missing following a boat accident in Sokoto state. According to the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema), the boat, which was carrying more than 50 passengers, overturned in the River Goronyo on Sunday while en route to a local market. One official from Sokoto confirmed to PulseWire that four survivors have been located.
Nema is collaborating with local authorities to ramp up rescue efforts, focusing on locating remaining missing passengers. Boat accidents are not uncommon in Nigeria, often attributed to overcrowding, inadequate boat maintenance, and lax enforcement of safety guidelines.
A tragic incident in December 2024 saw 54 bodies recovered from the River Niger after a boat that may have held over 200 passengers capsized. This event marked the third boat disaster within a 60-day timeframe. Just a month earlier, nearly 200 people died when a wooden canoe, carrying nearly 300 passengers, capsized in the Niger River.
In a separate incident that drew significant media attention, over 100 people drowned two years ago in southwestern Nigeria after their vessel, overloaded with passengers returning from a wedding, went down in the waterway.
Despite regulations mandating that all passengers wear life jackets, these safety measures are often not adhered to, especially in rural communities where access to necessary equipment is limited. As the search continues, authorities are deeply concerned about the rising trend of boat accidents in the region and are scrutinizing safety protocols to prevent such tragedies in the future.
