At least 52 bodies, including 11 members of the same family, have been buried following a boat accident in Gorau, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The boat, carrying more than 70 farmers and workers to their rice farms, capsized around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday while crossing a waterway. Several children, mostly girls, were reportedly among the passengers.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said 52 bodies had so far been buried, while authorities continued efforts to determine the exact number of victims.
Rescue operations were still ongoing, with local divers and residents searching for those who may still be missing.
Survivors and residents attributed the tragedy to factors including overcrowding and a possible fault with the boat. A state lawmaker representing Goronyo Constituency also urged residents to avoid overloading boats and called for safer means of crossing the waterway.
Residents appealed to the government to provide safer transportation and consider constructing a bridge to enable farmers to access their farmlands without relying on the waterway.
