At least 25 rescued after boat capsizes in Nigeria, dozens feared dead

At least 25 people have been rescued while another 25 remain missing after a boat carrying around 50 passengers capsized in northwestern Nigeria’s Sokoto State, authorities said on Tuesday.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that no bodies had been recovered as of Tuesday morning, but the missing passengers are presumed dead, News.Az reports, citing Reuters.

The wooden vessel, transporting women, children, and motorcycles to Goronyo market, overturned on Sunday. Local officials blamed the accident on overloading and poor road infrastructure, which forces many residents to rely heavily on water transport.

Rescue efforts have been complicated by strong water currents caused by a nearby dam, according to Goronyo local government chairman Zubairu Yari.

Boat accidents are frequent in Nigeria during the rainy season, when weak enforcement of safety rules and overcrowded vessels heighten the risks.

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At least 40 missing after boat capsizes in northwestern Nigeria

At least 40 people are missing after a boat capsized Sunday on a river in northwestern Nigeria, authorities said.

The accident happened around the Goronyo area in Sokoto state while the boat was transporting passengers to a market, Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency said in a statement late Sunday.

The emergency agency said only 10 people have been rescued as teams continue search and rescue efforts in the area.

The accident is the latest in a series of deadly boat mishaps on Nigerian waterways. Such accidents are common in remote communities during the rainy season, often caused by overloaded and poorly maintained vessels.

Last month, a boat transporting passengers to a market in north-central Nigeria capsized, killing at least 25 people.

At least 326 people died in boat accidents in Nigeria in 2024, according to a count by TheCable, a local media outlet.

Analysts say many boats operate without life jackets, blaming weak enforcement by regulatory authorities.

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