Rescue teams in northwestern Nigeria are searching for more than 40 people after a passenger boat overturned in Sokoto State on Sunday morning, 17 August.

The National Emergency Management Agency confirmed that the vessel, carrying more than 50 people en route to Goronyo Market, capsized on the River Goronyo. “About 10 persons have been rescued, while more than 40 passengers remain missing,” the agency said in a statement.

Authorities believe the accident may have been the result of overloading, a recurring problem in riverine communities where boats are often crowded beyond safe capacity levels and poorly maintained.

Such tragedies are frequent across Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season between March and October, when waterways swell.

In August 2024, at least 16 farmers died in a similar accident in Sokoto. In July, two separate incidents in Niger and Jigawa states claimed the lives of at least 19 people, including six girls.

Despite regulations requiring life jackets, safety measures are rarely enforced in rural areas, leaving travellers at risk. Rescuers say efforts are ongoing to locate those still missing.

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