At least 40 people have been presumed dead after a wooden boat capsized on a river in northwest Nigeria. The incident occurred near Gummi town in Zamfara state, where the boat was ferrying more than 50 farmers to their fields. Only 12 passengers were rescued, with authorities still searching for the bodies of the others. The boat was said to be overloaded, causing it to overturn and sink.
This tragic incident is the second of its kind in the Gummi local government area, highlighting the dangers of navigating the region’s rivers. More than 900 farmers depend on crossing the river daily, using only two boats which often become overcrowded. President Bola Tinubu expressed his condolences for the farmers’ deaths as well as the flooding that has displaced over 10,000 people in the area.
Zamfara state is known for its armed groups engaging in various criminal activities, further complicating the situation for the local population. Boat accidents are common in Nigeria due to poor regulation of waterways, and the lack of safety measures such as life jackets. Last month, similar incidents led to the deaths of nearly 30 farmers in Sokoto state and 15 farmers in Jigawa state.
The government has promised support for the victims of these tragedies, but the need for better safety measures and regulation on Nigeria’s waterways remains a pressing issue to prevent such devastating accidents in the future.
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