Abuja: At least 41 people were killed when a boat capsized in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state on Saturday, while 12 others were rescued by emergency personnel.
Suleiman Gummi, a national lawmaker representing the Gummi/Bukkuyum constituency in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, said on Sunday that the boat had over 50 passengers and crew members on board. He reported that the boat capsized in the river near Gummi town, located in the Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara.
Gummi explained that the passengers were farmers who traveled by boat daily to reach their fields in nearby areas. According to the news agency Xinhua, authorities immediately dispatched local divers and other personnel to the site upon receiving information. At least a dozen people were rescued alive. Hassan Dauran, head of the Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency, mentioned in an interview with local media that most of the victims were women and children.
Boat accidents frequently occur in the West African country, often attributed to factors like overloading, adverse weather conditions, and operational errors. News of the tragedy has caused an outpouring of grief in the homes of those who were on board the boat.
