Officers say about 10 individuals rescued after accident in African nation’s northwestern area.
Rescuers are looking for greater than 40 people who find themselves lacking after a ship capsized in Nigeria’s northwestern state of Sokoto, in accordance with authorities.
Nigeria’s Nationwide Emergency Administration Company (NEMA) mentioned on Sunday that its Sokoto operations workplace had deployed a response staff to assist rescue efforts following the “tragic boat mishap”.
NEMA’s director basic, Zubaida Umar, mentioned the company responded after “receiving reviews {that a} boat conveying over 50 passengers to Goronyo Market had capsized”.
NEMA mentioned in an announcement shared on social media that about 10 individuals had been rescued, and greater than 40 different passengers have been lacking.
Nigeria’s The Punch newspaper, citing a neighborhood official, mentioned the accident could have been brought on by overloading, a recurring challenge for boats within the state’s riverine communities.
Boat accidents are widespread in Nigeria, significantly in the course of the annual wet season, from March to October, when rivers and lakes overflow.
At the least 16 farmers died in an identical accident in Sokoto State in August 2024, when a picket canoe carrying them throughout a river to their rice fields capsized.
Final month, a minimum of 13 individuals died and dozens extra went lacking after a ship ferrying about 100 passengers capsized in Niger State, in north-central Nigeria.
Two days later, six ladies drowned after a ship taking them residence from farm work capsized midstream within the northwestern Jigawa State.
