About 40 people are feared to have lost their lives after an overloaded boat capsized in Gorau town, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, according to reports from the area.
The victims were reportedly farmers travelling by boat to their rice farms when the vessel overturned while crossing the waterway.
A local official of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) said around 40 corpses had been recovered, while search and recovery efforts were continuing.
The incident has again raised concerns over the safety of people who depend on local boats to access their farms and communities, particularly in areas where waterways are an important means of transportation.
Initial reports indicate that the boat was overloaded, although authorities are yet to establish the full circumstances surrounding the accident.
Rescue personnel and local divers are expected to continue efforts to recover any remaining victims and establish the final casualty figure.
The tragedy comes amid recurring boat accidents across Nigeria, with overcrowding, inadequate safety measures and poorly maintained vessels frequently identified as major concerns in waterway transportation.
Authorities are expected to release further information as recovery operations continue.
Stay tuned to LiteTv for more updates.
