At least 46 people have died after a boat carrying 77 passengers capsized in Gorau community, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The incident occurred on Thursday morning shortly after the boat left the community, with farmers, women and children reportedly on board and heading towards their farmlands.
The Sokoto State Police Command said 46 bodies had been recovered, while 15 passengers were rescued alive. Sixteen others remained unaccounted for as rescue operations continued.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmed Rufai, confirmed the development, saying local divers and emergency agencies were working together to locate the missing passengers.
“Forty-six corpses have so far been recovered, while 15 persons were rescued alive. The rescue team, comprising local divers, NEMA, SEMA and the Police, is still searching for the remaining 16 persons,” Rufai said.
He confirmed that 77 people were travelling in the boat when it overturned.
The accident has thrown Gorau community into mourning, with families anxiously awaiting information about relatives who remain missing.
A resident, who spoke anonymously, said the passengers were travelling to their farms when the boat overturned.
According to the resident, local divers responded immediately and began searching the water, recovering several bodies in the process.
A senior official of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, who identified himself as Alhaji Ibrahim, said the agency had mobilised personnel to the scene.
“Our officials are currently on their way to the community to join the rescue operation,” he said.
The exact cause of the accident had not been established as of the time of filing this report.
The tragedy has also renewed concerns about the safety of waterways used by farming communities in the area. It occurred exactly a year after a similar boat accident was reported in Kijio community, also in Goronyo Local Government Area.
Reacting to the incident, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Manir Dan’iya, described the accident as devastating and called for immediate measures to improve water transportation safety.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, Dan’iya expressed concern over reports that children aged between 10 and 15 were among those travelling with farmers and labourers.
“I am deeply saddened by this tragic incident and the loss of precious lives in Gorau. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones and those whose relatives are still missing,” he said.
He commended residents and local divers who participated in the rescue effort, while urging the state government and relevant emergency agencies to increase the number of personnel, medical teams and rescue equipment deployed to the community.
Dan’iya also called for the proper identification and documentation of victims to enable affected families to receive necessary support.
He said the incident underscored the risks faced by rural residents who depend on waterways to reach their farms.
“This tragedy highlights the urgent need for safer means of transportation for our farming communities. No farmer should have to risk his or her life simply to access a farm and provide food for the family,” he said.
The ADC candidate urged the state government to assess waterways across Sokoto and enforce safety measures, including the use of life jackets, proper regulation of boats, training for operators and stronger emergency response systems.
He further advocated the construction of bridges and alternative routes in communities where waterways continue to pose serious dangers.
Dan’iya extended his condolences to the bereaved families and residents of Gorau and Goronyo Local Government Area, while appealing to residents to remain calm and support ongoing search-and-rescue efforts.
