By Seyi Odewale
Another deadly boat accident has struck Nigeria’s inland waterways, this time in Sokoto State, where more than 40 people are feared missing after a passenger boat capsized on Sunday morning.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the ill-fated vessel was carrying over 50 passengers heading to the popular Goronyo Market when it overturned midstream. At least 10 people have been rescued so far, but dozens remain unaccounted for as emergency workers intensify search and rescue operations.
The Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, confirmed that the agency’s Sokoto Operations Office immediately deployed its response team in collaboration with local authorities and volunteers to support the ongoing rescue efforts.
Boat accidents have become alarmingly frequent in Nigeria, often blamed on overcrowding, poorly maintained vessels, and a lack of enforcement of safety standards. The rainy season typically worsens the situation as swollen rivers and lakes make navigation more dangerous.
This latest disaster comes against a troubling backdrop of repeated fatalities on Nigeria’s waterways. Just last month, six schoolgirls drowned in Jigawa State after their boat capsized on their way home from farm work.
In May, at least 27 people lost their lives in Gbajibo, Kwara State, barely months after another accident in the same community claimed more than 100 lives.
Similarly, Sokoto itself witnessed tragedy in August 2024 when 16 farmers drowned while heading to their rice fields.
Authorities say rescue efforts are ongoing in Goronyo, with the hope that more survivors can still be pulled from the river.
