ABUJA
Rescue operations are underway in Nigeria’s northwestern Sokoto state after a boat overturned, leaving more than 40 passengers unaccounted for, officials confirmed Sunday.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said its Sokoto field office had dispatched a team to assist in the search following what it described as a “tragic maritime accident.”
NEMA Director General Zubaida Umar said the agency acted immediately after “receiving information that a vessel carrying over 50 traders bound for Goronyo Market had sunk.”
In a statement posted on social media, the agency noted that around 10 individuals were pulled to safety, while over 40 others remain missing.
According to Nigeria’s Punch newspaper, citing a local authority, the mishap may have been triggered by overcrowding—a persistent challenge for water transport in the state’s riverine communities.
Such incidents occur frequently across Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season, which runs from March to October, when swollen rivers and lakes increase the risk of boat disasters.
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