Rescue teams in northern Nigeria are actively searching for over 40 individuals missing following a tragic boat accident that occurred on Sunday in Sokoto state. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that the boat was carrying more than 50 passengers to a local market when it capsized in the River Goronyo. So far, four people have been rescued, according to local officials speaking to the BBC. NEMA has stated that they are "intensifying efforts alongside local authorities to locate those still missing."
Boat accidents in Nigeria are not uncommon, often attributed to overcrowding and poor maintenance of vessels, as well as the lack of enforced safety regulations. A tragic incident in December 2024 saw the recovery of 54 bodies in the River Niger after a boat carrying potentially over 200 passengers capsized. This disaster was the third significant boat accident to occur within a two-month timeframe. Just a month prior, a wooden dugout canoe filled with nearly 300 passengers overturned, resulting in nearly 200 fatalities.
In a similar accident that drew significant media coverage, over 100 individuals drowned two years ago when a vessel, packed with around 300 passengers traveling from Kwara state to Niger state after a wedding, sank. Although regulations require all passengers to wear life jackets, these are often unavailable, particularly in rural regions where many of these incidents occur.
For more updates and insights on Nigeria, follow BBC Africa on social media platforms and tune into their podcasts focusing on the continent.
Boat accidents in Nigeria are not uncommon, often attributed to overcrowding and poor maintenance of vessels, as well as the lack of enforced safety regulations. A tragic incident in December 2024 saw the recovery of 54 bodies in the River Niger after a boat carrying potentially over 200 passengers capsized. This disaster was the third significant boat accident to occur within a two-month timeframe. Just a month prior, a wooden dugout canoe filled with nearly 300 passengers overturned, resulting in nearly 200 fatalities.
In a similar accident that drew significant media coverage, over 100 individuals drowned two years ago when a vessel, packed with around 300 passengers traveling from Kwara state to Niger state after a wedding, sank. Although regulations require all passengers to wear life jackets, these are often unavailable, particularly in rural regions where many of these incidents occur.
For more updates and insights on Nigeria, follow BBC Africa on social media platforms and tune into their podcasts focusing on the continent.
