At least 25 people have been rescued, while 40 others remain missing after a boat carrying approximately 65 passengers capsized on Sunday in Nigeria’s northwestern Sokoto State.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported on Tuesday that the missing individuals are presumed dead, though no bodies have been recovered yet. The boat, which was transporting women, children, and motorcycles to the Goronyo market, overturned due to overloading.
Boat accidents are common in Nigeria during the rainy season, often caused by poor enforcement of safety regulations and reliance on overloaded, unsafe vessels. Authorities say poor road infrastructure also contributes to the heavy dependence on water transport in the region.
